His inspiration led to the rediscovery (and subsequent colonization) of Madeira (1420) and the Azores (1427). By 1444 one of his captains had rounded Cape Blanco and explored the beginnings of sub-Saharan Africa. Slaves and gold were brought back to Portugal, and suddenly the voyages became profitable. Captains were now less afraid to leave the coast so avoiding shoals and reefs and unfavourable currents that sweep up the coast of Africa. In 1456 the [[Cape Verde Islands]], 600kms off the coast of Africa, were discovered. By the time of his death, in spite of his ban on the kidnapping of Africans for the [[slave]] trade, the business was booming, and his captains were starting to push down past what is now [[Sierra Leone]]. | His inspiration led to the rediscovery (and subsequent colonization) of Madeira (1420) and the Azores (1427). By 1444 one of his captains had rounded Cape Blanco and explored the beginnings of sub-Saharan Africa. Slaves and gold were brought back to Portugal, and suddenly the voyages became profitable. Captains were now less afraid to leave the coast so avoiding shoals and reefs and unfavourable currents that sweep up the coast of Africa. In 1456 the [[Cape Verde Islands]], 600kms off the coast of Africa, were discovered. By the time of his death, in spite of his ban on the kidnapping of Africans for the [[slave]] trade, the business was booming, and his captains were starting to push down past what is now [[Sierra Leone]]. |