Fort Nassou van Binien met Oranje.op´t Eilant Goeree

Title

Fort Nassou van Binien met Oranje.op´t Eilant Goeree

Description

Map shows the Fort Nassau on the island Gore in Senegal

ca. 1680

Artist

Dapper (1636-1689)

Olfert Dapper was a Dutch physician and writer. He wrote books about world history and geography, although he never travelled outside the Netherlands. In 1663 wrote a book on the history of Amsterdam. His Description of Africa (1668) is a key text for African studies. His book "is one of the most authoritative 17th century accounts on Africa published in German. Translations appeared in English, French, and German. Dapper never traveled to Africa but used reports by Jesuit missionaries and other (Dutch) explorers. Within a few years he published about China, India, Persia, Georgia, and Arabia. His books became well known in his own time. The fine plates include views of Algiers, Benin, Cairo, Cape Town, La Valetta, Marrakech, St. Helena, Tangier, Tripoli, Tunis, as well as, animals and plants.

Historical Description

In 1444, the first Portuguese ship reached the coast off what is now Senegal. The Portuguese were primarily interested in trading African gold, bypassing the Arabs. In the following centuries, the trade was carried on by lançados, descendants of Portuguese sailors and African women. Communities of Lançados existed in numerous places along the African coast; however, these were not initially colonies. Toward the end of the 15th century, a strong northern migration of Tukulor took place, finally destroying the state of Takrur and causing Jolof to break up into several kingdoms, namely Waalo, Cayor, Baol, Sine, and Saloum. These states were all unstable; nobles, kings, and members of the warrior caste of the old Mali Empire fought for influence.