Despite the Almoravid domination of Spain in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, there seems to be little evidence of contact during that time between Mauritania and Europe.

The inhospitable coastline of Mauritania continues to deter voyagers until the Portuguese begin their African explorations in the fifteenth century.

Lured by legends of vast wealth in interior kingdoms, the Portuguese establish a trading fort at Arguin, southeast of Cap Blanc (present-day Ras Nouadhibou), in 1455.

The king of Portugal also maintains a commercial agent at Ouadane in the Adrar in an attempt to divert gold traveling north by caravan.

Having only slight success in their quest for gold, the Portuguese quickly adapt to dealing in slaves.

In the mid-fifteenth century, as many as one thousand slaves per year are exported from Arguin to Europe and to the Portuguese sugar plantations on the island of São Tome in the Gulf of Guinea.