Ivory Coast aka Cote d'Ivoire

The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire lies on the western coast of Africa. The nation is covered in jungle or African wet and is host to a rich history and culture. 

Not a huge nation geographically, it covers less than 125 thousands miles, yet this is more than substantial enough to support  major cities like Abijan which is the largest and Yamoussoukro the capital city. 

Cote d'Ivoire received its name of its profitable trade of ivory. Going back to before the Roman republic trade was established along the coast bringing ivory from African elephants, gold, spices, and slaves. The earliest known inhabitants are lost to history, only the trade from their land remembered. Records indicate that between 1000 to 1500 years ago Islamic traders established themselves in the region. Neighboring Ghana played a strong influence as inhabitants spread through the region in the 1600s.

Europeans did not reconnect closely with Cote d’Ivoire until the 1800s due to lack of good harbors. This trade led to some devastating consequences. Fred Shelly said in his book Nation Shapes: the Story Behind the Worlds Boarders that there was vast over hunting of elephants and slave trade first pulled resources through Ghana and eventually came directly into the territory as resources were drained. To this day despite great conservation efforts the African Elephant in this region of Africa has gone from plenteous to endangered. Many of the enslaved, if they survived the trip to the ports and ship ride made their way to rice, sugar, and cotton plantations in the New World.

The French succeeded in controlling the nation, giving its French name and most used language. Through politics the citizens became independent on August 7^th 1960. This was due a large to the service and sacrifice of over 40 thousand soldiers from Cote d’Ivoire who served in the French army during World War 2.

"Ivory Coast - PRE-EUROPEAN PERIOD." Ivory Coast - PRE-EUROPEAN PERIOD. Accessed May 15, 2015. http://countrystudies.us/ivory-coast/4.htm.

Ivory Coast History and Politics. Our Africa. Accessed May 14, 2015

http://www.our-africa.org/ivory-coast/history-politics

Shelly, Fred. Nation Shapes: The Story behind the World's Borders. Copyright 2013 ABC-CLIO, LLC

Côte d’Ivoire gains independence from France. South African History Online. Accessed May 14, 2015.

 http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/c%C3%A3%C2%83%C3%A2%C2%B4te-d%C3%A3%C2%A2%C3%A2%C2%82%C2%AC%C3%A2%C2%84%C2%A2ivoire-gains-independence-france