Elmina Castle, Ghana

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The Portuguese constructed the castle in 1482 to protect the gold-rich lands discovered in 1471.

The castle, was strategically located at the end of a narrow promontory bounded on two sides by the Atlantic Ocean and the Benya River or lagoon.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Portuguese enjoyed a trade boom in spite of numerous attempts by Castilians and later the French and the English to break the trade monopoly they enjoyed.

The Portuguese imported vast quantities of old and new cloths, blankets and linen from Morocco, North European copper and brassware, millions of "manilas" (metal bracelets) and iron kettles and bars in exchange for gold dust and ornaments supplied by Mina.

Because of a booming import trade, the Portuguese in the early 16th century, imported slaves from Benin to Elmina to work in the sector in exchange of gold, ivory, etc from the local people. The Dutch however, attacked the Portuguese and dislodged from Elmina in 1637.

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