Final answer:
The first voyage along the Western coast of Africa was funded by Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator in the 15th century. This was part of the early European exploration and trading activities in Africa, especially in the pursuit of gold and engaging in slave trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first voyage along the Western coast of Africa was funded by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal in the 15th century. He was interested in exploring Africa's resources, primarily gold, which led to the establishment of trading posts along the African coast. These explorations were some of the earliest instances of direct European involvement in African trade. Prince Henry also collected taxes from this trade and used them to sponsor further voyages.
Additionally, enslaved people were also purchased and sold during these voyages and the income from this was also used to fund further expeditions. These journeys were significant as they helped Portugal lay the groundwork for their future trading empire. Eventually, Portuguese ventures along the African coast reached the southern tip of Africa, exemplified when Bartolomeu Dias sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to reach the eastern side of the continent in 1488.
Learn more about Prince Henry's African Expeditions