Did Bartolomeu Dias go to the New World to spread Christianity?

Answer 1

Dias (Diaz) was sent to sail around Africa because the Portuguese had become aware that Christian communities existed in India and East Africa, at a time when they had long believed that Christianity was largely a European religion, based since earliest times in Rome. His mission was, in part, to meet up with these Christians, particularly a reputed religious leader named Prester John. Another purpose of the expedition was to open up a trade route to the east, since the Muslim Arabs had stopped all European trade through the Middle East and now had a monopoly on the supply of spices to Europe.