BREAKING: EU Sanctions Goetz for Illicit Gold Trade

Gold has been a valuable commodity throughout human history, with civilizations dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome valuing the precious metal for its beauty, rarity, and ability to be shaped into intricate designs. In the Middle Ages, gold was used as a means of currency and trade, with merchants and traders traveling long distances to exchange gold for goods and services.

During the 15th century, the gold trade was an important part of the global economy. The discovery of gold in the New World by Christopher Columbus and other explorers in the late 1400s led to a significant increase in the amount of gold available for trade. This new supply of gold, combined with the growing demand for luxury goods in Europe, led to a thriving trade in gold between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

The gold trade was primarily conducted through the transatlantic slave trade, with African slaves being traded for gold and other goods. This trade was extremely profitable for European traders, but it had a devastating impact on the people of Africa, as millions were captured and transported across the Atlantic to work on plantations and mines.

In addition to the transatlantic slave trade, the gold trade also involved trade routes across the Sahara desert, where gold was traded for goods such as textiles, salt, and slaves. The Kingdom of Ghana, which controlled much of the gold production in West Africa, was a major player in this trade.

The gold trade also had a significant impact on the economies of the New World. The Aztec and Inca empires, which controlled much of the gold production in Central and South America, were conquered and plundered by the Spanish, who took control of the gold mines and forced the indigenous people to work in them.

In addition to the transatlantic slave trade, the gold trade also involved trade routes across the Sahara desert, where gold was traded for goods such as textiles, salt, and slaves. The Kingdom of Ghana, which controlled much of the gold production in West Africa, was a major player in this trade.

The gold trade also led to the development of new trade routes and the growth of new cities. For example, the Portuguese established a trading post at Elmina, on the coast of Ghana, which became a major center for the gold trade.

The gold trade of the 15th century had a profound impact on the global economy and on the lives of people around the world. It led to the development of new trade routes, the growth of new cities, and the rise of powerful empires. However, it also had a devastating impact on the people of Africa, who were captured and transported across the Atlantic as slaves, and on the indigenous people of the Americas, who were conquered and forced to work in gold mines.

The gold trade also had a significant impact on the economies of the New World. The Aztec and Inca empires, which controlled much of the gold production in Central and South America, were conquered and plundered by the Spanish, who took control of the gold mines and forced the indigenous people to work in them.

Despite the negative consequences of the gold trade, it was an important part of the global economy during the 15th century and helped shape the world we know today. The trade of gold continues to be a major part of the economy, with gold mines and gold trade still continues till now. The use of gold as a form of currency, investment and in the production of jewelry is still a big business in current time. The demand for gold remains high and the trade of this precious metal will likely continue to be an important part of the global economy for centuries to come.