Portuguese Atlantic Expansion and the Disruption of Trans-Saharan Routes (c. 15th–17th centuries)

1. Portugal captures Ceuta, opening Saharan gateway

   Aug 21, 1415Labels: Ceuta, Portugal

   • Portuguese Enc
   • Wikipedia

2. Portuguese trading begins on the Senegal River

   Jan 1, 1448Labels: Senegal River, Portuguese sailors

   • Senegal River

3. Arguin becomes an early Atlantic trade outpost

   Jan 1, 1448Labels: Arguin Island, Portuguese fort

   • HPIP Arguin

4. Portuguese reach the gold trade at “Mina”

   Jan 1, 1471Labels: Mina Elmina, Gold Coast

   • Fern o Gomes
   • Portuguese Gold Coast

5. Treaty of Alcáçovas recognizes Portuguese Atlantic claims

   Jan 1, 1479Labels: Treaty of, Portugal

   • Britannica

6. Elmina Castle built to control the gold trade

   Jan 21, 1482Labels: Elmina Castle, S o

   • GMMB
   • Museu EXEA

7. Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape of Good Hope

   Feb 1, 1488Labels: Bartolomeu Dias, Cape of

   • Dias

8. Treaty of Tordesillas divides Atlantic expansion zones

   Jun 7, 1494Labels: Treaty of, Spain, Portugal

   • Britannica
   • WHE

9. Vasco da Gama reaches India by sea

   May 20, 1498Labels: Vasco da, India voyage

   • Vasco da Gama
   • EBSCO

10. Songhai succession conflicts weaken caravan-state stability

    Jan 1, 1586Labels: Songhai Empire

    • WHE Songhai
    • Songhai

11. Moroccan campaign defeats Songhai at Tondibi

    Mar 13, 1591Labels: Battle of, Morocco

    • Tondibi
    • Moroccan invasion

12. Timbuktu captured, forming the Pashalik of Timbuktu

    May 30, 1591Labels: Timbuktu, Pashalik of

    • Pashalik

13. Dutch seize Elmina, ending Portuguese Gold Coast dominance

    Aug 29, 1637Labels: Elmina Castle, Dutch West

    • Elmina Castle
    • History of Elmina