Table of Contents
Which country traded with West Africa?
Portugal and its explorers were important in the Age of Discovery. Due to their interactions with Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, Europeans became more interested in Western resources. As the Portuguese traded cloth, metals, and manufactured goods, they also spread the word about Western Africa and their rich culture.
Who was the first to trade with West Africa?
the Portuguese
The first traders to sail down the West African coast were the Portuguese in the 15th century.
What was traded to West African cultures?
A profitable trade had developed by which West Africans exported gold, cotton cloth, metal ornaments, and leather goods north across the trans-Saharan trade routes, in exchange for copper, horses, salt, textiles, and beads. Later, ivory, slaves, and kola nuts were also traded.
What is the main trading market of West Africa?
The EU is West Africa’s biggest trading partner. The EU is the main export market for West African transformed products (fisheries, agribusiness, textiles, etc.).
Why did Portugal not trade with West Africa?
The Portuguese control of the Indian Ocean trade The Portuguese did not have an easy time on the east coast of Africa. They found the climate inhospitable and many died of tropical diseases. They were also constantly attacked by hostile inhabitants of the area and were unable to conquer the interior of Africa.
Which European nations traded with Africa?
The merchants from Britain, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands who began trading along the Atlantic coast of Africa therefore encountered a well-established trading population regulated by savvy and experienced local rulers.
What inventions came from West Africa?
Here are ten inventions that originated from Africa and have changed the entire course of human history.
- Math. Contrary to popular belief, civilizations existed before Europeans ‘discovered’ them *gasp*.
- Art.
- Writing.
- Language.
- Medicine.
- Mining and Metallurgy.
- Architecture.
- Phones.
Which product of West Africa was most important in the trade across the Sahara?
Gold, sought from the western and central Sudan, was the main commodity of the trans-Saharan trade. The traffic in gold was spurred by the demand for and supply of coinage. The rise of the Soninke empire of Ghana appears to be related to the beginnings of the trans-Saharan gold trade in the fifth century.
How many countries make up West Africa?
17
Western Africa (17) – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Who did the Western and Central African traders trade with?
The trade routes of Ancient Africa played an important role in the economy of many African Empires. Goods from Western and Central Africa were traded across trade routes to faraway places like Europe, the Middle East, and India.
Why did the Portuguese want slaves?
The high demand for slaves was due to a shortage of laborers in Portugal. Black slaves were in higher demand than Moorish slaves because they were much easier to convert to Christianity and less likely to escape.