The location of Africa, in particular, Ivory Coast had a lot
to do with the initial contact between them and Europe. The Portuguese were the
first to explore West Africa. Which was later followed by the idea of trade. Initially,
trade included gold, ivory and pepper. Later on, a demand for slaves became a
large part of the trade with West Africa.[1]
By the end of the fifteenth century, commercial contacts with Europe had spread
to areas north of the West African coast as well.[2]
 |
| Portugal trade with Africa http://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/history-of-portugal1.htm |
Ivory Coast was affected by these influences, but there were
not really any sheltered harbors along the coast. Because of that, many
Europeans did not set up permanent trading posts. Therefore, European trade
played a minor role in the “conquest by Europeans of Ivory Coast.”[3]
The slave trade really did not have an effect on Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast’s
main thing they traded was ivory in the 17th century. However, it
began to die out in the 18th century because there was such a
decline in elephants.
 |
| Ivory http://inhabitat.com/u-s-introduces-near-complete-ban-on-elephant-ivory-trade/ |
“The earliest recorded French voyage to West Africa took
place in 1483.”[4]
Although that did not directly connect with Ivory Coast, it eventually did. In
the mid-19th century, French established in Ivory Coast. They
already had settlements in other areas along the West African coast. The British
already had permanent posts along the Gulf of Guinea, which is just east of
Ivory Coast. So other countries had already set up settlements that would allow
them to thrive in those areas before other countries had the chance to do so.
 |
| Cote d'Ivoire is the same as Ivory Coast (left) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gulf_of_Guinea_Nations.png |
“The first posts in Ivory Coast included one at Assinie and
another at Grand-Bassam, which became the colony’s first capital.”[5]
Ultimately what brought Europeans to West Africa, was the idea of trade. West Africa,
for the most part provided ports that would make trade easier. Ivory Coast was
mostly influenced by British and French trade.
