The Gold Coast Of West Africa - 1703 Words

The importance of Elmina formally referred to as the Gold Coast of West Africa is that of a stepping stone for European interaction and colonization of Africa. To understand how Elmina led the way for European colonization and interaction, there must be an understanding of the history of Elmina, African and European relations and the importance of trade goods flowing out of Africa. Elmina, a port on the coastal modern day Ghana near the capital Accra in Africa, was one of the first settlements in West Africa being a city of great importance that â€Å"encapsulates the years of European contact, trade, and colonization better than any other site in Africa.† The city was built around the fort Sao Jorge Da Mina or Elmina castle and would later be†¦show more content†¦However the Portuguese were able to only arm their forts and the Elminas, who were used to protect their trade routes. It was not until the Dutch and English intervention that firearms trade exploded in the Gold Coast. â€Å"The concentration of Dutch, English, Swedish, Danish and Branden-burg commercial establishments on the Gold Coast in the course of the seventeenth century obliged each trading power to maintain a strong and capable military position in order to protect its mercantile operations.† During the early to mid-sixteen-hundreds the Dutch only sold firearms to their trade partners to protect themselves. They worked towards protecting their monopoly and taking over rival companies and territories. The English were the true exporters of firearms to the Gold Coast locals. From 1673 to 1704 the Royal African Company shipped around 66,000 firearms to the Gold Coast. â€Å"This gradual dispersion of guns coincided with the rise and consolidation of expansionist states.† These expansionist states would later become dominating states that controlled the exportation of slaves. During â€Å"the mid-eighteenth century Asante and Dahomey dominated the Gold and Slave Coasts, politically and militarily,† they were able to control the Gold Coast and subjugate many smaller neighboring states. The Asante were a true