Map of West Africa, c. 1660 — Empires, Trade, and the Atlantic World

Hand-painted and historically researched map of West Africa in the mid-seventeenth century, depicting the region during a period of profound political and economic transformation.

By this time, Morocco’s Saʿdī dynasty had crossed the Sahara and defeated the Songhai Empire (centered on Gao and Timbuktu) in the late sixteenth century, reshaping the balance of power across the Sahel. Although older imperial structures persisted in modified form, the trans-Saharan political order that had dominated West Africa for centuries was in visible decline.

Along the Atlantic coast, European powers—most prominently the Dutch—established a growing network of forts and trading posts, integrating West Africa into an expanding Atlantic commercial system. These coastal enclaves facilitated the exchange of gold, ivory, and other commodities, while also playing a central role in the early modern slave trade, linking West Africa to the economies of the Americas and Europe.

This map seeks to present West Africa not as a peripheral zone, but as a region actively shaped by intersecting African, Islamic, and European worlds, each exerting influence through trade, warfare, and diplomacy. Interested in more? Click here. 

This work is available as a high-quality giclée print in multiple sizes. Fine details may appear softened in online images due to compression; the printed version is significantly clearer. 

This map was researched and hand-painted by a trained historical cartographer with academic experience in European and global history. Each CartographyCraft map is designed to prioritize historical accuracy, visual clarity, and period-appropriate aesthetics over modern anachronism. If you are interested in a print with a frame or the original, contact the site owner directly.