Timeline

15th century

1. 1482★★★★★

   Portugal builds Elmina Castle

   The Portuguese built São Jorge da Mina on the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana), the first European post in sub-Saharan Africa, which later became a hub of the slave trade.

   EconomyExploration· Ghana, Portugal
2. c. 15th century – c. 1860s★★★★★

   The transatlantic slave trade

   From the 16th to the 19th century, an estimated 12.5 million enslaved Africans were shipped across the Atlantic to the Americas, with profound consequences for both continents.

   Economy· Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, Angola, Brazil, United States, Portugal, United Kingdom