uring the 13th and 14th centuries. It was with the Djolof Kingdom that Europeans had first contact. * In 1455 the Venetian, Cada Mosto, was employed by the Portuguese prince, Henry the Navigator, his job was to investigate and explore the West African coastline. 50 years later an explorer from Portugal spent four years investigating the country. The Portuguese then established a monopoly of trade with the Senegalese coastal kingdoms. These relations lasted until the 16th century when the British, French and Dutch replaced them. * Britain, France and the Netherlands all wanted to get control of St Louis and Ile de Goree because these were strategic points where slaves bound for America could be collected. * In 1659 St Louis was secured in French hands and a fort was built. * When the slave trade ended, the French turned to cultivating cash crops which was very unsuccessful due to the hostility of the inhabitants. * In the late 19th century, Senegal, was conquered by the French who created Dakar as the administrative centre and showpiece of France's empire, they constructed roads, railways, ports and universities. * Blaise Diagne was the first black deputy, elected in 1914, but he soon lost local support due to his collaboration with the French interests in the colony. * A new group of black politicians arose led by Lamine Gueye and Leopold Senghor they campaigned for the abolition of forced labour, improvement in standards of living and for the granting of French citizenship to the colony's subjects. * In 1959 Senegal joined French Sudan to form the Federation of Mali, this was in the run up to independence. * In 1960 independence came to the Federation, but then 2 months later, Senegal broke away from the Federation and declared itself independent as the Republic of Senegal, this was under the presidency of Leopold Senghor. * From time to time after its independence violent demonstrations occurred due to the fact that not everybody was ...
