West African Gold Trade and Portuguese Expansion (1450–1600)

1. Portugal captures Ceuta, opening Atlantic routes

   Aug 22, 1415Labels: Ceuta, Portugal

   • De Re Militari

2. Arguin fort established to secure early trade

   Jan 1, 1448Labels: Arguin Island, Portuguese factory

   • Britannica

3. Papal bull Dum Diversas backs Portuguese conquest claims

   Jun 18, 1452Labels: Pope Nicholas, Dum Diversas

   • Dum Diversas

4. Papal bull Romanus Pontifex grants Guinea privileges

   Jan 8, 1455Labels: Romanus Pontifex, Papal bull

   • Romanus Pontifex

5. Death of Henry the Navigator shifts exploration leadership

   Nov 13, 1460Labels: Henry the, Portugal Crown

   • Britannica

6. Fernão Gomes receives Guinea trade lease and monopoly

   Jan 1, 1469Labels: Fern o, Guinea lease

   • EVE

7. Portuguese reach the Gold Coast trade at Elmina

   Jan 1, 1471Labels: Gold Coast, Elmina region

   • Britannica
   • EVE

8. Treaty of Alcáçovas recognizes Portuguese dominance in Guinea

   Sep 4, 1479Labels: Treaty of, Portugal

   • Britannica
   • EVE

9. Bull Aeterni regis reinforces Portugal’s Guinea exclusivity

   Jun 21, 1481Labels: Aeterni regis, Pope Sixtus

   • Wikisource

10. Elmina Castle built to protect and centralize gold trade

    Jan 21, 1482Labels: Elmina Castle, Castelo de

    • Britannica
    • GMMB

11. Treaty of Tordesillas reshapes Portuguese-Spanish spheres

    Jun 7, 1494Labels: Treaty of, Spain

    • Britannica

12. Battle of Three Kings triggers Portuguese succession crisis

    Aug 4, 1578Labels: Battle of, Portugal

    • Britannica

13. Iberian Union begins, tying Portugal to Spanish crown

    Jan 1, 1580Labels: Iberian Union, Philip II

    • Britannica

14. Moroccan victory at Tondibi hastens Songhai collapse

    Mar 13, 1591Labels: Battle of, Songhai Empire

    • Tondibi