West Africa in the Middle Ages and Beyond

In the late middle ages, West Africa was pretty powerful. The Mali Empire was no joke.

What happened?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_Empire

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
In the late middle ages, West Africa was pretty powerful. The Mali Empire was no joke.

What happened?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_Empire

If I recall correctly, Portuguese sea power ascended, the trade routes shifted, and Timbuktu got shafted. So that empire suffered from the effects of a technological bypass.

Istanbul used to be the centre of the world, you know ...

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
If I recall correctly, Portuguese sea power ascended, the trade routes shifted, and Timbuktu got shafted. So that empire suffered from the effects of a technological bypass.

Istanbul used to be the centre of the world, you know ...

So it's Palynka's fault! I never did trust those sardine munchers. Portugal looks too much like California for me to turn my back on it...

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
If I recall correctly, Portuguese sea power ascended, the trade routes shifted, and Timbuktu got shafted. So that empire suffered from the effects of a technological bypass.

Istanbul used to be the centre of the world, you know ...

How come they didn't open a port on the Atlantic and participate?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
How come they didn't open a port on the Atlantic and participate?

Portugal was focused on the eastward route to the "Indies" - Spain focused on the westward route and found their own "Indies"