GdwnsnHo
Banned
@Sycamore - My other concern is what could be done to help them expand? If the PoD is to ensure West African dominance, then it'll need to take over all of West Africa, and quickly.
The major issue will be manpower, equipment, and money. If they ban slavery (as they did), that cuts off a revenue stream, and denies that revenue stream from expanding when Europe comes along. This makes things difficult.
In short, they need more manpower, and money - the increased money can be used to buy equipment from N.Africa.
Perhaps that initial expedition gets reinforced? Either by Morocco, or a combination of Songhai, and Tuareg recruits (You hadn't mentioned them, but I imagine they'd be useful to involve, beyond being merchants).
As for money - if they can get more gold, they've solved that problem in a certain manner - but could still benefit from bringing in new cash-crops to grow in the region.
I do really like the idea though, a Republican West Africa that can reasonably import Moroccan or other Islamic scholars for education, as well as shipwrights. Perhaps I'm overambitious, but it would certainly be cool to see them form a rivalry that can face Portugal - since it'll be Portugal, and other Europeans, that they'll need to stop buying slaves to ensure there aren't slavers in their Republic.
The major issue will be manpower, equipment, and money. If they ban slavery (as they did), that cuts off a revenue stream, and denies that revenue stream from expanding when Europe comes along. This makes things difficult.
In short, they need more manpower, and money - the increased money can be used to buy equipment from N.Africa.
Perhaps that initial expedition gets reinforced? Either by Morocco, or a combination of Songhai, and Tuareg recruits (You hadn't mentioned them, but I imagine they'd be useful to involve, beyond being merchants).
As for money - if they can get more gold, they've solved that problem in a certain manner - but could still benefit from bringing in new cash-crops to grow in the region.
I do really like the idea though, a Republican West Africa that can reasonably import Moroccan or other Islamic scholars for education, as well as shipwrights. Perhaps I'm overambitious, but it would certainly be cool to see them form a rivalry that can face Portugal - since it'll be Portugal, and other Europeans, that they'll need to stop buying slaves to ensure there aren't slavers in their Republic.