Search results
Cape Verde was a colony of the Portuguese Empire from the initial settlement of the Cape Verde Islands in 1462 until the independence of Cape Verde in 1975. History. 15th century. The islands of Cape Verde were discovered in 1444 by Prince Henry the Navigator (Son of King John I) and Antonio Noli, in the service of Henry's relative King Afonso V.
- Geography & Climate
- Discovery
- Settlement
- Slavery
- Later History
Located some 500 kilometres (310 mi) off the coast of West Africa(Mauritania and Senegal), the Cape Verde island group is named after the westernmost cape of the African continent. There are nine inhabited islands today, the capital being Praia on Santiago (São Tiago). The most important port is Mindelo on São Vicente. The other islands are Boa Vis...
It is likely that Cape Verde was known to ancient mariners such as the Phoenicians, and to Islamic sailors and Africans. However, it was not until the 15th century that anyone took a serious interest in populating the islands. Two Genoese mariners, sailing under the flag of Portugal, discovered the archipelago in 1460. Their names were Antonio and ...
As with the Portuguese colonization of the Azores and Madeira, the Crown partitioned the islands and gave out 'captaincies' (donatarias) as part of the system of feudalism to encourage nobles to fund their development. The first 'captain' of Santiago was Antonio da Noli. Each 'captain' ordonatario was given the responsibility of settling and develo...
The islands really gained wider prominence when the slave trade to the Americas took off. Cape Verde was ideally located to ship enslaved people from the African continent and then put them aboard the slave ships that crossed the Atlantic to be used as labour in plantations in the Caribbean, North America, and Brazil. On the return journey, these s...
As the fortunes of the islands declined, many Cape Verdeans migrated to the Portuguese islands of São Tomé and Principe or to North America where the whaling industry offered employment. This was especially so with the end of the slave trade in 1876. The islands have always been strategically important and now they became useful as a refuelling bas...
- Mark Cartwright
Cape Verde's official language is Portuguese. [1] It is the language of instruction and government. It is also used in newspapers, television, and radio. Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu) is used colloquially throughout Cape Verde and is the mother tongue of virtually all Cape Verdeans.
The recorded history of Cape Verde begins with the Portuguese invasion and colonization of the island in 1458. Possible early references to Cape Verde date back at least 2,000 years.
Sep 25, 2024 · Although Portuguese is the official language and is used in formal situations, Crioulo, one of the oldest of the Portuguese creole languages, is by far the most widely spoken. The different dialects of Crioulo that exist on the islands may be broadly divided into Sotavento and Barlavento groups.
Oct 10, 2023 · Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony, holds a unique position in the realm of Portuguese-speaking nations. Its rich history, dating back to the 15th century, intertwined with the Portuguese Empire, has paved the way for a fascinating linguistic evolution and cultural significance.
People also ask
Where are the Cape Verde Islands?
How old is Cape Verde?
What is the history of Cape Verde?
When did Cape Verde become a colony?
The history of Cape Verde is typical and yet unique for its location. For three centuries, the islands were a setting for the transatlantic slave trade, exile for political prisoners of Portugal and a place of refuge for Jews and other victims of religious persecution during the Spanish-Portuguese Inquisition.
