Any Realistic Ways to Connect Americas to Eurasia *Very Early On*?

[Richard V]

The easiest place to do this is contact between west Africa and Brazil. This is where the Atlantic is narrowest and the ocean currents make round trips relatively easy. Had west Africans developed sailing and navigation on par to Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean this would easily be possible. Technically west Africa may not have had a Bronze Age, but central Africa had a very early Iron Age contemporary to the Bronze Age in the Middle East.

 

[Arkenfolm]

What might Brazil have that West Africa wants? The main gold and diamond areas are a good deal south/inland. Africa has plenty of nice trees to harvest for valuable wood so brazilwood wouldn't be valuable. And the downside is that introducing African diseases was exactly what brought down the Amazonian civilization IOTL.

West Africa would get cassava and peanuts out of it though which will be huge.

 

[Richard V]

What might Brazil have that West Africa wants? The main gold and diamond areas are a good deal south/inland. Africa has plenty of nice trees to harvest for valuable wood so brazilwood wouldn't be valuable. And the downside is that introducing African diseases was exactly what brought down the Amazonian civilization IOTL.

West Africa would get cassava and peanuts out of it though which will be huge.

Costa Branca is a major producer of salt, which was what tropical West Africa sent gold and slaves north across the desert to get. Besides cassava they also get corn, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, cocoa.

Amazonia is screwed. On the plus side AmerIndians get horses, goats, cattle, camels, iron and sail. Plus early immunization through disease exposure as well as DNA add mixture.

 

[Arkenfolm]

Costa Branca is a major producer of salt, which was what tropical West Africa sent gold and slaves north across the desert to get. Besides cassava they also get corn, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, cocoa.

True, although I didn't know about the salt. However, gaining salt there is almost as much of a challenge as gaining salt in the Sahara, although it has the benefit that you don't have to trade in gold or slaves since the locals will like a lot of iron tools and such.

Amazonia is screwed. On the plus side AmerIndians get horses, goats, cattle, camels, iron and sail. Plus early immunization through disease exposure as well as DNA add mixture.

Now, I suppose we'd have in the remnants of Amazonia a bunch of "Maroon" kingdoms (might not be the best term, but like OTL Maroons, they're African-led states with a lot of Amerindian DNA and cultural influence) which would be pretty resilient. Not sure how well any of those domesticates do. The nearest suitable terrain is the llanos and mountains of OTL Venezuela. Better sailing might be the best introduction of the Africans since it enables way more trade between the various cultures of the Americas.