<P> Originally , Portuguese and French merchant - explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries divided the west coast of Africa , very roughly , into five `` coasts '' reflecting local economies . The coast that the French named the Côte d'Ivoire and the Portuguese named the Costa do Marfim -- both , literally , being `` Ivory Coast '' -- lay between what was known as the Guiné de Cabo Verde , so - called `` Upper Guinea '' at Cap - Vert , and Lower Guinea . There was also a Pepper Coast also known as the `` Grain Coast '' , a `` Gold Coast '' , and a `` Slave Coast '' . Like those , the name `` Ivory Coast '' reflected the major trade that occurred on that particular stretch of the coast , the export of ivory . </P>
<P> Originally , Portuguese and French merchant - explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries divided the west coast of Africa , very roughly , into five `` coasts '' reflecting local economies . The coast that the French named the Côte d'Ivoire and the Portuguese named the Costa do Marfim -- both , literally , being `` Ivory Coast '' -- lay between what was known as the Guiné de Cabo Verde , so - called `` Upper Guinea '' at Cap - Vert , and Lower Guinea . There was also a Pepper Coast also known as the `` Grain Coast '' , a `` Gold Coast '' , and a `` Slave Coast '' . Like those , the name `` Ivory Coast '' reflected the major trade that occurred on that particular stretch of the coast , the export of ivory . </P>
why did they call it the ivory coast
why did they call it the ivory coast
reflected the major trade that occurred on that particular stretch of the coast , the export of ivory
reflected the major trade that occurred on that particular stretch of the coast , the export of ivory