During Medieval times, the region that is now Ivory Coast was at the centre of several major African trade routes, linking the empires which then existed in Ghana and Mali. European traders had been present in the region since the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th that the French undertook a determined penetration of the region.
Currency in Ivory Coast: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States.
The food in Cote d’Ivoire reflects the cultural diversity of its population and especially its expatriate population. Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese food is becoming increasingly popular, while Senegalese and Moroccan cuisines are specialties.