Transcontinental slavery made CidadeVelha the second richest city in the
Portuguese realm. Portugal was unable to protect its colonies
because the English, Dutch, French and Spanish took over the slave trade and
the island was later raided by pirates. In 1712, the capital no longer served
CidadeVelha which was attacked by pirates and was moved to the Praia plateau.
The island population were disadvantaged by the Portuguese colonial system and
supported AmÃlcar Cabral and the African Party for the Independence of
Guinea and Cape Verde and the
independence of 1975. Santiago several times hosted conferences on Creole
culture.
