{"slug": "west-africa", "label": "West Africa", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4412", "qid": "Q4412", "description": "western-most geographic region of the continent of Africa, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean", "entries": 7, "years": 7, "span": [-499, 1808], "span_label": ["500 BCE", "1808 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 2}, {"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 2}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 1}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 1}, {"title": "Economy & Finance", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "royal-navy", "label": "Royal Navy", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "gabon", "label": "Gabon", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "berbers", "label": "Berbers", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "mauritania", "label": "Mauritania", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "ghana-empire", "label": "Ghana Empire", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "james-ii-of-england", "label": "James II of England", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "songhai-empire", "label": "Songhai Empire", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -499, "year_label": "500 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Hanno the Navigator's naval exploration of the western coast of Africa could have reached as far south as Gabon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1363151372#Africa", "title": "500 BC", "revid": 1363151372, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 990, "year_label": "990 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Ghana Empire takes the Berber town of Aoudaghost (modern Mauritania) as the West African nation makes further gains.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341908655#Africa", "title": "990", "revid": 1341908655, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 1043, "year_label": "1043 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "The first king of the Kingdom of Nri, Eze Nri Ìfikuánim, is installed in West Africa.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365591040#Africa", "title": "1043", "revid": 1365591040, "section": "Events › By place › Africa"}}, {"year": 1539, "year_label": "1539 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "March 2", "text": "March 2 – Askia Isma'il, ruler of the Songhai Empire in West Africa, dies after a reign of slightly less than two years and is succeeded by Askia Ishaq I.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366494992#January–March", "title": "1539", "revid": 1366494992, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1660, "year_label": "1660 CE", "section": "Economy & Finance", "date": "December 18", "text": "December 18 – The Company of the Royal Adventurers into Africa, planned by Prince James, brother of King Charles II to capture persons along the coast of West Africa for resale as slaves, receives its charter. Prince James, later King James II, had started asking for investors (at 250 pounds sterling per share) starting on October 3, 1660.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365986539#October–December", "title": "1660", "revid": 1365986539, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1722, "year_label": "1722 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 10", "text": "February 10 – The Battle of Cape Lopez begins off of the coast of West Africa (and present-day Gabon), as the Royal Navy brings an end to the piracy of Bartholomew Roberts, nicknamed \"Black Bart\". Captained by Chaloner Ogle of the Royal Navy, HMS Swallow fires its cannons as Roberts sails his ship Royal Fortune toward the oncoming Swallow in order to gain time by forcing Swallow to turn around. Standing on the deck, Roberts and two of his crew are killed by the second wave of cannon fire. The remaining 272 pirate crew are captured.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365128046#January–March", "title": "1722", "revid": 1365128046, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1808, "year_label": "1808 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "March 1", "text": "March 1 – The slave trade is abolished by the United Kingdom in all of its colonies as the Slave Trade Act 1807 takes effect. This year, the British Royal Navy establishes the West Africa Squadron on the coast of West Africa to enforce the abolitionist Blockade of Africa.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369185588#January–March", "title": "1808", "revid": 1369185588, "section": "Events › January–March"}}]}