Sea in culture of barbarian invaders and knowledge of geography took a backward step. In the seventh century, Isidore of Seville produced a "wheel map" in which Asia, Africa and Europe were arranged like segments in an orange, separated by the "Mare Mediterranean", "Nilus" and "Tanais" and surrounded by "Oceanus". It was not until the fifteenth century that Ptolemy's maps were used again and Henry the Navigator of Portugal initiated ocean exploration and maritime research. Encouraged by him, Portuguese navigators explored, mapped and charted the west coast of Africa and the Eastern Atlantic and this knowledge prepared the way for the great voyages
Drug trade in West Africa Drug trade in West Africa In the late 1950s and early 1960s the US and EU’s demand for cocaine, cannabis, and other drugs increased dramatically. This resulted in two trade routes, both of which went through West Africa. One route exported local cannabis from West and South Africa to Europe and Asia. The other trade route moved cocaine from Latin America and heroin from Afghanistan to the EU and US. This was only possible because of West Africa’s badly policed borders, endemic corruption, and economic inequalities. At first the drugs were only smuggled in small quantities, but as time progressed