Oral Tradition

In African societies, oral tradition is the method in which history, stories, folktales and religious
beliefs are passed on from generation to generation. It is a primary means of conveying culture.
African people depended upon oral tradition to teach the listener's important traditional values
and morals pertaining to how to live. But oral tradition also has its weakness, it only tells the
lives of powerful people, but not ordinary people. Also oral tradition can be adjusted by different
political power; message can be changed over time (different people have different points to
focus on); and oral tradition only exits in powerful kingdoms.
Glottochronology
Glottochronology is that part of lexicostatistics dealing with the chronological relationship
between languages, it can also be simply referred as history of languages. Language groupings
with higher cognate percentage are more closely related and diverged from their linguistic
ancestor more recently. Glottochronology helps historians identify the ancestors of African
people and give some references of how African people migrate.
The Maghreb
The Maghreb has the highest and most rugged mountains in North Africa. The largest plain area
lies along the Atlantic coast, and is sheltered by mountains to the north, east, and south. The
north and center enjoy a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild, rainy winters. The
Maghreb has good agricultural condition, and was mainly influenced by Europeans in the
history.
Sahara Desert
The Sahara is the worlds largest hot desert and one of the harshest environments on the planet.
At 3.6 million square miles, the Sahara, which is Arabic for "The Great Desert," engulfs most of
North Africa. It is thought that the lack of water in Sahara Desert area may cause terrorists and
wars.
The Sahel
The Sahel is the Eco climatic and biogeographic zone of transition in Africa between the Sahara
to the north and the Sudan region to the south. Having a semi-arid climate, it stretches across the
south-central latitudes of Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. Around
4000 BC the climate of the Sahara and the Sahel became drier at an exceedingly fast pace. This
climate change caused lakes and rivers to shrink rather significantly and caused increasing
desertification. This, in turn, decreased the amount of land conducive to settlements and caused
migrations of farming communities to the more humid climate of West Africa.
The Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a large extension of land extends from the eastern edge of the continent of
Africa, lying between the Indian Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Aden to the north. The Horn
of Africa is primarily distinguished through a low lying arid plain called the Ethiopian
Highlands, which is divided into two sections by the Rift Valley. The two distinct sections of the
Ethiopian Highlands form an area rich in natural resources. While the habitat and plant
environment has changed dramatically from its original state, the Horn of Africa continues to
contain a high level of native plant life. The mountainous geography does not only provide with

good agricultural environment, but also serves as natural defense, the only country exists from
the European colonial is Ethiopia.
The Great Lakes Region
The Great Lakes of Africa are a series of lakes in and around the Great Rift Valley. The highlands
are relatively cool, with average temperatures in the mid-60s and abundant rainfall. Forests are
dominant in the lowlands, while grasslands and savannas are most common in the southern and
eastern highlands. In history, the Great Lakes Region has many powerful, highly centralized,
wealthy kingdoms, including Uganda, the home of slaves. The Great Lakes Regions are
abundant of coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco and etc.
The Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in southern Africa extending 900,000
square kilometers. Derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning "the great thirst", meaning "a
waterless place", the Kalahari Desert has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent
surface water. It is known that initially residents are hunters and gathers.
Menes
Ancient tradition ascribed Menes the honor of having united Upper and Lower Egypt into a
single kingdom and becoming the first pharaoh of the First Dynasty. According to some
researches, Menes founded the city of Memphis as his capital. Menes had introduced the worship
of the gods and the practice of sacrifice as well as a more elegant and luxurious style of living.
Also, Menes was credited with being the inventor of writing in Egypt.
The Nile River Valley
The Nile River provided an endless source of fresh water, fertile soil, and food. The Nile would
flood each year starting in July and lasting until November. This flood would provide new, rich
soil for the Egyptians and would wash away waste. The seas around the civilization served a
barrier against war and disease. The inhabitants of the Nile River Valley Civilization depended
heavily on farming. Close proximity to the Nile allowed easy access to water needed for crops.
Seasonal flooding fertilized the land for the next year's crops.
The Bantu Migration
The Bantu migration was one of the first formative events in African history. The Bantu peoples
migrated from Western Africa-- near modern-day Nigeria-- southward and eastward, spreading
out across all of the southern half of the African continent. This migration started at about 1000
B.C.E., and ended at about 1700 A.D. The Bantu peoples brought agriculture to the southern half
of Africa, which was mostly populated by foragers, herders, and hunter-gatherers. Bantu peoples
settled land and created great empires like the Great Zimbabwe and the Zulu kingdom, and
continued to expand and settle more land. This changed so much of Africa very dramatically.
This migration, or expansion, was discovered through language.
The Equatorial Tradition

Under population Excess availability of land relative to human communities

Acephalous societies decentralized community structure

Patriarchal Structures, but matrilineal inheritance (Big Man)

Polygyny need to maximize reproduction and productivity
Gendered division of labor
Generational tensions between men over access to women and land
Wealth in people, not in land

Acephalous Societies
In anthropology, an acephalous society is a society which lacks political leaders or hierarchies.
Such groups are also known as egalitarian or non-stratified societies. Typically these societies are
small-scale, organized into bands or tribes that make decisions through consensus decision
making rather than appointing permanent chiefs or kings. Most foraging or hunter-gatherer
societies are acephalous
Matrilineal Descent Systems
Matrilineal is the tracing of descent through the female line. It may also correlate with a societal
system in which each person is identified with their matrilineal their mother's lineage and
which can involve the inheritance of property and/or titles. In a matrilineal descent system, an
individual is considered to belong to the same descent group as her or his mother.
Polygyny
The polygamy has existed in all over the African continent thanks to the fact that it represents an
aspect of their culture and religion. One of the reasons why this has happened is because the
African societies have managed to see that children were a form of wealth and this way a family
with more children was considered to be more powerful. In order to maximize productivity
within agricultural society, people use polygyny to maximize reproduction rate.
Bridewealth
Bridewealth, also called bride-price or marriage payment, payment made by a groom or his kin
to the kin of the bride in order to ratify a marriage. The payment of bridewealth is most often a
matter of social and symbolic as well as economic reciprocity, being part of a long series of
exchanges between the two intermarrying families. Bridewealth was a practical expression of the
gratitude of the groom and his family for having brought the bride up. It strengthened
connections between the families and clans involved. Another advantage of bridewealth was that
it gave the couple mutual rights.
Pygmies
A Pygmy is specifically a member of one of the hunter-gatherer people living in equatorial
rainforests, characterized by their short height. In many places they are recognized as being the
first inhabitants of the region. There are many African Pygmy tribes throughout central Africa.
Most Pygmies are nomadic, and obtain their food through a mix of foraging, hunting, fishing,
and trading with inhabitants of neighboring villages. Their cultural identity is very closely tied to
the rainforest, as are their spiritual and religious views. Pygmies and Bantus have many
interactions, Bantus taught Pygmies their knowledge and technology of agricultural, Pygmies
taught Bantus their regions and beliefs. Poverty soil let Bantus found that only agricultural things
are not enough, so Bantus also learned from Pygmies how to hunt, and this leads a mix farming

society. By the time Bantus get stronger than Pygmies, they push Pygmies out of the society and
dominate the area. But Pygmies still serve as compass for Bantus in spiritual area.
The Big Man
Big Man is a highly influential individual in a tribe. Such person may not have formal tribal or
other authority (through for instance material possessions, or inheritance of rights), but can
maintain recognition through skilled persuasion and wisdom. The big man has a large group of
followers, both from his clan and from other clans. He provides his followers with protection and
economic assistance, in return receiving support which he uses to increase his status. In a tribe,
each house has a big man (leader), and these houses altogether establish the village. And these
big man will generate a consul, because the increases competition of land and other resources, 10
years or some pattern like this, new village will be formed.
Nkisi
Nkisi are spirits, or an object that a spirit inhabits. It is frequently applied to a variety of objects
used throughout the Congo Basin in Central Africa that are believed to contain spiritual powers
or spirits. Close communication with ancestors and belief in the efficacy of their powers are
closely associated with Nkisi. Exceptional human powers are frequently believed to result from
some sort of communication with the ancestors. People known as Sangoma work as healers,
diviners, and mediators who defend the living against black magic and provide them with
remedies against diseases.
Syncretism
Religious syncretism exhibits blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new
system, or the incorporation into a religious tradition of beliefs from unrelated traditions.
Ancestors
Traditional African concepts of reality and destiny are deeply rooted in the spirit world. The
activities and the actions of the spirit beings govern all social and spiritual phenomena. The
African divinities and the ancestors, who are the lesser beings, have been actively involved in the
everyday religious life of the traditional Africans. Ancestors directly receive sacrifices, offerings
and prayers offered by the traditional Africans. African people go to their ancestors for help.
Mask of died family member, this family member has some unique characteristics to be learned
and remembered. The purpose to maintain relationship with ancestors is to pass the assets own
by the ancestor to the off-springs, so their off-springs can seek help from ancestors.
Sangoma
Sangoma are traditional healers of South Africa, they are practitioners of traditional African
medicine. They fulfill different social and political roles in the community. Sangoma need to
perform ritual and directly communicate with ancestors to ask what happened to the patients, and
the ancestors must be shown respect through ritual and animal sacrifice. They perform
summoning rituals by burning plants, dancing, chanting, channeling or playing drums.

Coptic Christianity
Coptic means Egyptian, and Christians living in Egypt identify themselves as Coptic
Christians. The Copts in Egypt contributed immensely to Christian tradition. The Catechetical
School of Alexandria was the oldest school in the world. Founded around 190 AD, the school of
Alexandria became an important institution of religious learning, where students were taught by
scholars. The scope of this school was not limited to theological subjects, science, mathematics
and humanities were also taught there. Another major contribution made by the Copts in Egypt to
Christianity was the creation and organization of monasticism.
The Kingdom of Aksum
The Kingdom of Aksum was a trading nation in Eritrea and Northern Ethiopia. It existed from
approximately 100940 CE. It was a major player in the commercial route between the Roman
Empire and Ancient India. The Aksumite rulers facilitated trade by minting their own Aksumite
currency. The kingdom is also known as the first kingdom who set Christianity as national
religion.
Kingdom of Nubia
Location is at present Sudan. Kingdom of Nubia is a Christianity kingdom, which borrows
Christian from Europe. By the time when Almoravid Invasion began, the kingdom declined and
fell apart quickly. Almoravid Invasion successfully converted the kingdom into Islam.
The Ark of the Covenant
This legendary artifact is the ornate, gilded case built some 3,000 years ago by the Israelites to
house the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. Biblical accounts
describe the Ark as large, about the size of a 19th-century seaman's chest, made of gold-plated
wood, and topped with two large, golden angels. The Ark has been linked to several of the Old
Testament's miracles. It was carried before the Israelites during the Exodus and is said to have
cleared impediments and poisonous animals from their path. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church
claims to possess the Ark of the Covenant. The object is currently kept under guard in a treasury
near the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion.
The Zagwe Dynasty
The Zagwe Dynasty was considered to be the first royal dynasty of Ethiopia founded
approximately at 12th century, but did not last for long. Ethiopian kings who combined a nomadic
military life with an impassioned desire to build monuments to their Christian religion. Lalibela,
the best-known Zagwe emperor, ruled at the beginning of the 13th century and is known for
building the monolithic rock-hewn churches at the Zagwe capital, which was later renamed for
him.
The Solomonic Dynasty
The Solomonic Dynasty is a period of history in Ethiopia began around 1270. It is so called
because, in 1270 when Emperor Yekuno Amlak became emperor and he declared to be the lineal
descent of Menelik I, son of King Solomon and Queen Sheba, he ended the short lived rule of the

Zagwes off of Ethiopia. During the Solomonic period of Ethiopian history, the Christian highland
and the Muslim coast were in constant fighting, often for the right to control trade routes.
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam are five basic acts in Islam, considered mandatory by believers and are
the foundation of Muslim life. They are summarized in the famous hadith of Gabriel.
Iman: Faith in the oneness of God and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad
Salah: Daily Prayers
Zakah: Almsgiving to the needy
Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan
Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca (for those who are able to do so)
Ukba ibn Nafi
Uqba ibn Nafi was an Arab military general who participated in Jihad. Ukba began his conquer
at around 7th century, just after the Islam was established. Kkba spread Islam through the form of
jihad.
The Great Berber Revolt
The Great Berber Revolt took place in 8th century Caliph Hisham and marked as the first
successful secession from the Arab caliphate. Being unfairly treated, discriminated and denied by
human rights, fired up by Kharijite puritan preachers, the Berber revolt against their Arab rulers
began in Tangiers in 740. The revolt soon spread through the rest of the Maghreb (North Africa)
and across the straits. The Berber revolt was probably the largest military setback in the reign of
Caliph Hisham. From it, emerged some of the first Muslim states outside the Caliphate. It is
sometimes also regarded as the beginning of Moroccan independence.
Fatimid Caliphate
The Fatimid Caliphate was an Islam caliphate that spanned a large area of North Africa The
dynasty ruled across the Mediterranean coast of Africa and ultimately made Egypt the center of
the caliphate. After the initial conquests, the caliphate often allowed a degree of religious
tolerance towards non-Ismaili. But 6th king aborted this religious tolerance and killed thousands
of Jews and Christians. Fatimids willing of gaining control of the Islamic heartland came to
nothing, because many other independent states refused to support.
Trans-Saharan Trade
Trans-Saharan trade was the transit of goods between sub-Saharan Africa and the northern Arab
and European worlds. Goods included precious metals, such as gold, as well as slaves. The trade
route was in operation between the seventh and 14th centuries, expanding the more established
trade route of the Silk Road between Europe and the Middle East. The mode of transportation for
the Berber trans-Saharan traders was camel caravans. The trade route also facilitated cultural
exchange between Africans and Arabs, promoting the spread of Islam.
Tuaregs
The Tuareg people are predominantly nomadic people of the Sahara Desert. The Tuaregs are part
of the Berber group of people, and they are largely Muslim. Tuareg camel caravans played the
primary role in trans-Saharan trade until the mid-20th century when European colonial

infrastructure - railways and roads - were introduced. Tuareg merchants were responsible for
bringing goods from these cities to the north. Tuareg merchants also bring Muslim to other areas.
The Swahili Coast
The Swahili Coast, has been the site of cultural and commercial exchanges between East Africa
and the outside world - particularly the Middle East, Asia, and Europe - since at least the 2nd
century A.D. The earliest coastal communities practiced ironworking, and were mainly
subsistence farmers and river Between 500 and 800 A.D. they shifted to a sea-based trading
economy and began to migrate south by ship. In the following centuries, trade in goods from the
African interior. By around the 9th century A.D., people who lived and traded on the coast had
developed a language, Swahili, a language based on the Bantu. They had also developed the
distinctive Swahili culture, characterized by the almost universal practice of Islam, as well as by
Arabic and Asian-influenced art and architectural styles.
Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city in the south-eastern hills of Zimbabwe. It was the capital of the
Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the country's Late Iron Age, which thought from 11th to 15th
century. With an economy based on cattle husbandry, crop cultivation, and the trade of gold on
the coast of the Indian Ocean. Because Great Zimbabwe is far away from the sea shore, there is
no Muslim influence.
The Ghana Empire
The Ghana Empire, which came before Mali Empire, was the first great medieval trading
empires of western Africa. Ghana Empire was thought to be established approximately at 9th
century, began decline at 11th century due to Almoravid Invasion, and fell apart by 13th century.
There is no history document about its early kings or how did it establish, but it is known as The
Ghana Empire had tremendous sources of gold. Ghana was populated by Soninke clans of
Mande-speaking people who acted as intermediaries between the Arab and Berber salt traders to
the north and the producers of gold and ivory to the south.
The Almoravid Invasion
The purpose of Almoravis Invasion which occurred around 11th to 12th century is in attempt to
force Ghana Empire leaders to convert to Islam. Even the invasion was not that successful and
only lasted for only a few years, but their activities upset the trade on which the Ghana empire
depended, and the introduction of their flocks into an arid agricultural terrain initiated a
disastrous process of desertification. Almoravids also cut off many trade routes to Ghana and
from Ghana and formed a new trade route with the Muslims instead.
The Mali Empire
Mali, the trading empire that flourished in West Africa from the 13th to the 17th century. It grew
up along the Niger River and eventually spread across 1,200 miles from the city of Gao to the
Atlantic Ocean. Its northern border was just south of the Sahara Desert. The Mali Empire was
formed by Sundiata who united the tribes of the Malinke peoples. Over time, the Mali Empire
became stronger and took over surrounding kingdoms including the Empire of Ghana. The
religion of Islam was an important part of the Mali Empire. However, even though the kings, or
Mansas, had converted to Islam, they did not force their subjects to convert. Many people
practiced a version of Islam that combined Islamic beliefs with the local traditions.

Sundiata
Sundiata Keita was the founder of the Mali Empire in West Africa. He ruled from 1235 to 1255
CE and established the Mali Empire as the dominant power in the region. He was the first king
of the Mande people to use the title "Mansa". He divided his kingdom into a number of selfgoverning provinces with leaders that were under his rule. He converted to Islam, but did not
require his subjects to convert.
Mansa Musa
The most famous of the Mali Emperors was Mansa Musa. Mansa Musa became famous because
of his lavish trip to Mecca. It is said that Mansa Musa was extremely rich and that he brought as
many as 60,000 slaves along with him on his pilgrimage. He also brought camels loaded with
gold. Mansa Musa must have made quite the impression during his trip with his large entourage
and massive display of wealth. During his travels, Mansa Musa gave away and spent a
significant amount of gold, but he also brought back a lot of new ideas to Mali. This included a
number of scholars such as architects, poets, and teachers who helped to improve his empire.
Mansa Musa built libraries, masks after his travel to Mecca.
Timbuktu
Timbuktu was considered a very important place due to its geographic position in West Africa as
a major economic city during the 15th and 16th centuries, because it was the first place when
trans-Sahara trade encountered. It was also considered a vitally important city for the spread of
Islam in Africa, due to the efforts of the University of Sankore. Control of Timbuktu is
considered to be the key of the prosperity of all the African empires, also is crucial to fight
against western kingdoms. It was built at the crossroads of major trade routes, and was a popular
place for scholars and architects to network with the artistic and intellectual elite.
Sufism
Sufism is a branch of Islam which originated from middle east. Instead of following strict rules
which had been written down, Sufism more focuses on expressing with good performance such
as dance, art, architectures, poetry and so on. Sufism is still predominately in west Africa.
The Suwarian Tradition
Al-Hajj Salim Suwari was a West African scholar who focused on the responsibilities of
Muslims minorities residing in a non-Muslim society. He formulated an important theological
rationale for peaceful coexistence with the non-Muslim ruling classes called the Suwarian
tradition in 15th century. In his teaching concepts, jihad was not the only way to spread Islam,
especially in Muslims minority society. This teaching method does not help Islam spread to west
Africa, but also effective nowadays.
The Songhai Empire
The Songhai Empire was located in Western Africa south of the Sahara Desert and along the
Niger River. At its peak, it stretched well over 1,000 miles from the current modern day country
of Niger to the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city of the Songhai was the city of Gao which was

located in modern-day Mali on the banks of the Niger River. The Songhai Empire lasts from 1516th century, prior to 1400s, it was ruled by Mali Empire.
Askia Muhammad
In 16th century, Askia Muhammad became the leader of the Songhai. He brought the Songhai
Empire to its height of power and founded the Askia Dynasty. Askia Muhammad was a devout
Muslim. Under his rule, Islam became an important part of the empire. He conquered much of
the surrounding lands and took control of the gold and salt trade from the Mali Empire. His
policies resulted in a rapid expansion of trade with Europe and Asia, the creation of many
schools, and the establishment of Islam as an integral part of the empire. Instead of organizing
the empire along Islamic lines, he tempered and improved on the traditional model by instituting
a system of bureaucratic government unparalleled in Western Africa.
Affective Mobility
Worldly Success Mobility
Status Mobility
Talking Drum
The Talking drum is an hourglass-shaped drum from West Africa, whose pitch can be regulated
to mimic the tone and prosody of human speech. It has two drumheads connected by leather
tension cords, which allow the player to modulate the pitch of the drum by squeezing the cords
between their arm and body. The use of talking drums is a form of communication.
Djembe Drum
Mbira
A musical instrument of Africa usually made out of a gourd that serves as a resonating box, to
which vibrating metal or wooden strips are attached for plucking.
Uhadi
Griot
Griots were the storytellers and entertainers in Ancient Africa. Griots were an important part of
the culture and social life of the village. The main job of the griot was to entertain the villagers
with stories. They would tell mythical stories of the gods and spirits of the region. They would
also tell stories of kings and famous heroes from past battles. Some of their stories had moral
messages that were used to teach the children about good and bad behavior and how people
should behave in order to make their village stronger. Griots were also the historians of Ancient
Africa. Because there was no written record of the village history, the stories of the griots
became the history and the only record of past events. The griot also was the musician for the
village. Different griots played different instruments.
Kora
The kora is a 21-string lute-bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.
Polyrhythm

Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms, that are not readily
perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The
rhythmic conflict may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rhythm), or a momentary
disruption. Polyrhythms can be distinguished from irrational rhythms, which can occur within
the context of a single part; polyrhythms require at least two rhythms to be played concurrently,
one of which is typically an irrational rhythm.
Call-and-Response
In music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different
musicians, where the second phrase is heard as a direct commentary on or response to the first. It
corresponds to the call-and-response pattern in human communication and is found as a basic
element of musical form, such as verse-chorus form, in many traditions.
In Sub-Saharan African cultures, call and response is a pervasive pattern of democratic
participationin public gatherings in the discussion of civic affairs, in religious rituals, as well
as in vocal and instrumental musical expression. It is this tradition that African bondsmen and
women brought with them to the New World and which has been transmitted over the centuries
in various forms of cultural expressionin religious observance, public gatherings and so on.
The Hamitic Myth
The term Hamitic originally referred to the peoples said to be descended from Ham, one of the
Sons of Noah according to the Bible. Noah cursed on Ham's youngest son, Canaan, stating that
his offspring would be the "servants of servants". During the Middle Ages, Jews, Christians, and
Muslims incorrectly considered Ham to be the ancestor of all Africans. Noah's curse on Canaan
as described in Genesis began to be misinterpreted by some scholars in Europe as having caused
visible racial characteristics in all of Ham's offspring, notably black skin. Some Arab slave
traders used the account of Noah and Ham in the Bible to justify Negro slavery, and later
European and American Christian traders and slave owners adopted a similar argument. The
Hamtic Myth can be considered as the legitimate reason for Europeans to begin Africa slave
trade.
Henry the Navigator
Henry the Navigator, a 15th century Portuguese prince, helped usher in both the Age of
Discovery and the African slave trade. Henry has the dubious distinction of being a founder of
the African slave trade. He sponsored exploration of the African coast, and hunting expedition
there in 15th century. Portuguese captured several Africans and brought them back to Portugal.
One of the captured men, a chief, negotiated his own return to Africa, promising in exchange to
provide the Portuguese with more Africans. Within a few years, Portugal was deeply involved in
the slave trade. Henry is also credited with furthering knowledge of geography, mapmaking and
navigation. He started a school for navigation, where he employed cartographers, shipbuilders
and instrument makers.
Vasco Da Gama
Vasco da Gama was a 15th Portuguese explorer. He led the first expedition that traveled from
Europe to India by sailing around Africa. Bartolemeu Dias had discovered the Cape of Good
Hope at the tip of Africa. It was thought that there may be a way around the Cape and to the
northeast towards India. Vasco da Gama was given a fleet of ships by the king and told to find a

trade route around Africa to India. He was also told to find any other trading opportunities along
the way. Vasco Da Gama leaded two major voyages, in his first voyage, he had found the much
needed trade route to India for Portugal. The second voyage was more of a military expedition
where he captured Arab ships and tried to show the might of the Portuguese navy.
Bartolomeu Dias
Bartolomeu Dias, Portuguese navigator and explorer who led the first European expedition to
round the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opening the sea route to Asia via the Atlantic and Indian
oceans. He is usually considered to be the greatest of the Portuguese pioneers who explored the
Atlantic during the 15th century. His discovery of Cape Verde Islands was the fundamental of
Portugals discovery of trade route to India.
Cape Verde Islands