<P> Elmina Castle was erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina ( St. George of the Mine ) Castle , also known simply as Mina or Feitoria da Mina ) in present - day Elmina , Ghana ( formerly the Gold Coast ) . It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea , so is the oldest European building in existence south of the Sahara . First established as a trade settlement , the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade . The Dutch seized the fort from the Portuguese in 1637 , and took over all the Portuguese Gold Coast in 1642 . The slave trade continued under the Dutch until 1814 ; in 1872 , the Dutch Gold Coast , including the fort , became a possession of the British Empire . </P>
<P> Elmina Castle was erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina ( St. George of the Mine ) Castle , also known simply as Mina or Feitoria da Mina ) in present - day Elmina , Ghana ( formerly the Gold Coast ) . It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea , so is the oldest European building in existence south of the Sahara . First established as a trade settlement , the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade . The Dutch seized the fort from the Portuguese in 1637 , and took over all the Portuguese Gold Coast in 1642 . The slave trade continued under the Dutch until 1814 ; in 1872 , the Dutch Gold Coast , including the fort , became a possession of the British Empire . </P>
what was the purpose of the elmina castle
what was the purpose of the elmina castle
a trade settlement
a trade settlement