colony · West Africa

Portuguese Cape Verde

1462 CE – 1975 CE · capital Praia

Atlantic island colony that became a key hub of the early slave trade and birthplace of a Creole society, until independence in 1975.

Origins

The uninhabited Cape Verde islands were reached by navigators in Portuguese service between 1456 and 1462. Settlement began on Santiago under the Genoese captain Antonio de Noli, and Ribeira Grande, today's Cidade Velha, became one of the first European towns in the tropics.

Rule and society

Ribeira Grande served as an entrepot for enslaved Africans shipped to the Americas, and the islands grew cotton and bred horses and cattle. Portuguese settlers and enslaved Africans formed a Creole society with its own language, Kriolu, and music. The capital moved to Praia in 1770. Repeated droughts caused famines that killed tens of thousands.

Decline and legacy

In the 20th century Cape Verdeans joined Amilcar Cabral's PAIGC, which fought for the independence of Portuguese Guinea and the islands. After the 1974 revolution in Portugal, Cape Verde became independent on 5 July 1975.

Connections (2)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Portuguese Cape Verde. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/portuguese-cape-verde
MLA
“Portuguese Cape Verde.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/portuguese-cape-verde. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Portuguese Cape Verde.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/portuguese-cape-verde.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Portuguese Cape Verde’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/portuguese-cape-verde (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻