Cape coast is steeped in history, being the capital of Britain's Gold Coast colony.  Cape Coast's importance derived from its position as the link between the maritime trade routes of the European powers and the trade routes through the Sahel.  Throughout the 18th century, Cape Coast's economy was dominated by its role at the heart of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade at any given time before 1807, when trading in slaves was abolished by the British parliament, there would have been up to 1500 captured individuals awaiting shipment in the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle.  The Castle is now a World Heritage site.