Colonization for Goods

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The Portuguese arrive in Ghana during the late 1400s for Africa’s benefits. The Portuguese luckily discovered copious amounts of gold in Ghana, this discovery led many other countries to Ghana like the Dutch, and the British. Before the 1950s Ghana is known as the Gold Coast (ghanaweb.com). The Portuguese first instinct when they arrive at Ghana is to collect gold. This natural resource was found between the Ankobra and Votra rivers. Additionally, the colonizing countries took interest in Ghana’s slaves, during the 1500s this interest outweighed Ghana’s demand for gold. The Gold Coast’s rich supply in salt attracted many European because they lacked this imperative resource.

The Portuguese colonized Ghana because Ghana provided an abundance of a valuable element. Ancient Ghana’s original name (The Gold Coast), intentionally inferred Ghana's prosperity in a valuable element. The Soninke people controlled their country’s resources by trading them for goods. But when the Portuguese traders arrived in Ghana they, "discovered much gold and in 1482 built a fort at Elmina. Trade between Portugal and the tribes of Ghana flourished, with gold dominating trade. The Portuguese later built more forts/"(Levy 23). The Portuguese's success imbued the English, Germans, and Danes to also build forts in Ghana. Ghana's abundance in gold plays a big role in its colonization because countries like Portugal had a paucity in this element. Portugal decided to build forts in Ghana because Ghana's people were affable and docile citizens, who did not mind trading their gold. A jackpot was established when the Portuguese landed in Ghana's ground because Ghana's gold supply increased its wealth as well as its popularity. Portugal will always be known as the...

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...s supply in hardworking slaves attracted the Portuguese because the Portuguese saved money when coercing people to work without having to pay. Ghana’s supply in salt lead Portugal to colonize Ghana because during the 1600s the world lacked this significant substance. One should not settle in countries hoping to achieve only self benefits because many innocent people are harmed in the process. Regardless of Portugal’s friendly manners with Ghana, Portugal lead many other countries like Britain into Ghana. Supplies are not everlasting, but mischievous acts are.

Works Cited

Beck, Roger B. Black, Linda. Krieger, Larry S. Naylor, Philip C. Shabaka, Dahia Ibo.World History patterns of interaction. United States of America: McDougal Littel, 2005. Print.
Levy, Patricia. Cultures of the World Ghana. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1999. Print.

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