Cape Verde History

According to the first Portuguese settlers who first wrote down Cape Verde history, the islands were inhabited when the first settlers arrived. Although these islands were generally uninhabited, there are records and stories of Moors, Phoenicians, and other foreigners visiting the islands. Because of Cape Verde's lack in population, it's no surprise that Cape Verde history is comprised mainly of Portuguese dominance.

Soon after the first Europeans settled on Cape Verde, they brought in slaves from the African mainland. Since Cape Verde is situated between Africa and the Americas, Cape Verde prospered in the 16th century from the transatlantic slave trade. But, in the 19th century, the decline of slave trade had a negative effect on the economy of Cape Verde. History also shows us that the archipelago was plagued with several droughts, severe deforestation, and famine. Although Cape Verde was still under the Portuguese government during this time, they did not receive any aid or relief during these dry spells.

During the 19th century, people from Cape Verde started emigrating to North America. Most of the first people who migrated from Cape Verde were crewmembers of whaling ships - usually recruited from the islands of Brava and Fogo. As the century was reaching its end, Cape Verde history shows that its economy went back on the rise. It became the perfect location for oil, water, and livestock resupplying stations for ocean liners.

Cape Verde's history is full of alternating progress and disasters. Although the Portuguese government did little to help Cape Verdeans during times of hardship, the people of Cape Verde generally fared better than their mainland counterparts because of their large mulatto (half-African and half-European) population. Because of this, their people were given more educational and industrial opportunities.

Now, Cape Verde is an independent, peaceful country that has become a hotspot for tourists and real estate investors. While Cape Verde history may be tumultuous and unpredictable, Cape Verdeans and foreigners alike see a bright future for this beautiful archipelago.

Cape Verde Maps