Basic 5 · History · Slave Trade
The Arrival of the Europeans
In this topic you will learn when and why the Europeans came to the Gold Coast and how trade with them began.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- State when the Portuguese arrived on the Gold Coast
- Explain why Europeans came to West Africa
- Describe the early trade between Europeans and Africans
What you already know
- Ancient towns and trade
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Europeans in Ghana
- Sub-strand
- Slave Trade
- Indicator
- B5.3.2.1.1 – Investigate why the Europeans began trading in humans by the 16th century
Introduction
In 1471, Portuguese sailors arrived on the coast near Elmina. They had sailed down the coast of Africa looking for gold and a sea route to Asia. Their arrival changed the history of Ghana for ever.
1. Why the Europeans Came
- To find gold: West Africa was famous for gold, and the forest region was rich in it.
- To trade directly with Africans and avoid the North African middlemen of the trans-Saharan trade.
- To find a sea route to India and Asia for spices.
- To spread Christianity.
- For adventure and national pride.
2. The Portuguese and Elmina Castle
The Portuguese arrived first, in 1471. They traded so much gold that they named the area "Mina" (the mine), and Europeans later called the whole area the Gold Coast. In 1482 they built São Jorge da Mina, now called Elmina Castle, to protect their trade from other Europeans. It is the oldest European building in Africa south of the Sahara.
3. Other Europeans
| Europeans | Examples of forts and castles |
|---|---|
| Portuguese | Elmina Castle (1482) |
| Dutch | Fort Nassau (Mouri); captured Elmina in 1637 |
| British | Cape Coast Castle (taken over in the 1660s) |
| Danes | Christiansborg Castle (Osu, Accra) |
| Swedes and Germans (Brandenburgers) | Fort Carolusburg (early Cape Coast); Fort Gross Friedrichsburg (Princes Town) |
4. Early Trade
At first the trade was in goods. Africans sold gold, ivory, pepper (malagueta) and kola to the Europeans. In return, Europeans brought cloth, brass pans, beads, iron bars, mirrors, alcohol and later guns and gunpowder. Coastal chiefs rented land to Europeans for their forts and collected rent from them. Africans acted as middlemen between the inland traders and the Europeans.
Relations between Africans and Europeans were not always peaceful. Europeans competed with one another and fought over forts; the Dutch captured Elmina from the Portuguese in 1637. Coastal states such as Fante and Ga bargained hard to protect their position as middlemen, and inland states such as Denkyira and later Asante fought to control the trade routes to the coast. Over time, the trade began to change, as you will learn in the next topic.
New words
- explorer
- A person who travels to discover new places.
- Gold Coast
- The European name for the land that is now Ghana.
- castle
- A large fortified building.
- fort
- A strong building built for defence.
- middleman
- A trader who buys from one person and sells to another.
- ivory
- The tusk of an elephant.
Summary
- The Portuguese arrived in 1471 and built Elmina Castle in 1482.
- Europeans came mainly for gold and trade.
- Dutch, British, Danes, Swedes and Germans followed.
- Early trade was in gold, ivory and kola for cloth, beads and metal goods.
Class activity: Fort Map
- On a map of Ghana's coast, mark five forts and castles.
- Label which European nation built or held each.
- Discuss why they were all built on the coast.
You need: Ghana map, Printed photographs of Ghanaian coastal forts, Castles, Cowrie shells, Trade beads
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Who were the first Europeans to reach the Gold Coast?
- A. Portuguese
- B. British
- C. Dutch
- D. Danes
Show answer
Answer: PortugueseIn 1471.2. When was Elmina Castle built?
- A. 1482
- B. 1957
- C. 1874
- D. 1600
Show answer
Answer: 1482By the Portuguese.3. What was the main reason Europeans came?
- A. Gold
- B. Cocoa
- C. Oil
- D. Football
Show answer
Answer: GoldThe area was rich in gold.4. Christiansborg Castle is in Accra.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt is at Osu.5. The Europeans first traded only in human beings.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseThey first traded in gold and goods.6. Europeans called the land the Gold ______.
Show answer
Answer: CoastBecause of its gold.7. Name three goods Europeans brought to trade.
Show answer
Answer: Cloth, beads and guns (or brass pans, alcohol, iron bars).Any three.8. Why did Europeans build castles and forts on the coast?
Show answer
Answer: To protect their trade, store goods and keep other Europeans away.Defence and trade.
Homework
- Find out which European fort or castle is nearest to your home and who built it.