The history of research in Africa.

Africa - distant and mysterious continent, which opened its mystery to Europeans recently.A few centuries ago, did not exist even a detailed map showing the hot exotic countries in the African continent.History of the study of the continent is filled with interesting events and unusual details that deserve attention.To understand them can be a table of (the study conducted in Africa in various fields).So you can get a general idea of ​​who studied the continent, and we consider their study in more detail.

Travels in East Africa

In the seventeenth century Europeans did not own all the necessary geographical information.Explorations in Africa, mainly related to only the Mediterranean countries.Therefore, many researchers have sought to the continent for more information.At the end of the seventeenth century French physician named Charles Jacques Poncet Ethiopia established a link with the Mediterranean Sea (particularly the Portuguese traveled there only in red).By joining the Jesuit mission, the scientist went up the Nile, crossed the Nubian Desert and found himself in the capital, where cured the sick sovereign Ieyasu first.Its further journey was directed to the Red Sea, in which he made an ordinary trip to the Portuguese Lower Egypt, from where he returned to France.

Another scholar who took up the study of Africa, became the Scotsman James Bruce.Interestingly, he was a doctor, like Ponce.He studied the way from Alexandria to Ethiopia traveled with a caravan of Arabian desert, visited the northern shores of the Red Sea, documenting the coastline.In the course of medical practice, he also visited the Lake Tana.His personal story of the discovery of Africa is set out in the book "Travel to open the source of the Nile in 1768-1773 gg.", Which was published in 1790.The appearance of this work has attracted the attention of geographers to the continent and was the starting point for a number of new studies.

Study of the White Nile

Left Bahr al-Abyad long been Europeans "mysterious country."White Nile has been associated with a variety of Ethiopia's trade routes.The first European who has passed one of them was an Englishman, William George Brown.He wanted to explore Darfur, but the ruler of the country forbade him to do so.In the capital, under the name of El Fasher archaeologist had to spend three years as long as the Sultan did not allow him to return to Egypt.Despite such limitations for the study of Africa, Brown collected a lot of valuable data for the report.Until the twenties of the nineteenth century, his description of Darfur, located on the territory of modern Sudan, was the only one.

West Africa

Until the eighteenth century the Europeans had known only of the surrounding basin of the river Gambia.Geographical research in Africa have been the subject of interest Stibsa Englishman Bartholomew, who in 1723 followed by 500 kilometers further studied before territories and got to the mountain massif of Fouta Djallon.He found that the Gambia is not related to Niger and begins somewhere nearby.In the wake of his travels British officers Smith and Leach mapped and applied the exact coordinates of the river in 1732.A big contribution to the French left.Their research focused pool Africa Senegal, during which they have studied in detail the colonialists.Features highlight Andre Brue, a former director of the trading company.He studied the Atlantic coast and became the first European who started the endeavor to penetrate into the inner part of the continent for the establishment of colonies.His reports handled missionary Jean Baptiste Labat, who wrote a book based on their "A new description of West Africa."The work was published in 1728 and became an important source of information about the area.

emergence of the African Association

Many interior regions of the continent remained unexplored, even in the second half of the eighteenth century.In order to continue the study of Africa was founded by Joseph Banks Association.She had to solve several problems.Firstly, it was necessary to find the sources of the White Nile.Second, the unknown were the exact coordinates of the Niger River.Third, the same were unexplored Congo and the Zambezi.Finally, it should examine the major African river tributaries to detect possible links.The most important thing was to deal with the area around the Niger.Therefore, the African Association sent several expeditions there.All attempts ended in the death of the travelers or simply to nothing lead.Research was invited to the Scot Mungo Park.He went to the east on a horse, followed by the African servants.The success of his expedition Mungo is obliged to follow the idea of ​​areas that are not yet owned by Muslims.So he managed to reach Niger.Returning to England, he published the book "Journey deep into Africa in 1795-1797 gg.", But some areas have remained unknown to him.

Portuguese contribution

list of people who have studied the mainland, includes people from different countries.A study conducted in Africa and Portuguese.Their efforts have been mapped Congo Basin, the CPA and the Kwango.In addition, it examined the Portuguese city of Angola - Benguela and Luanda.Engaged in research and preachers Capuchins.They were allowed to travel the Portuguese king.One of the Capuchins, the Italian Giovanni Antonio Kavatstsi, studied the whole of Angola, after which published the most accurate note.No less successful Portuguese explored the Zambezi basin, where worked gold seekers.Their cards allowed for a good understanding of this part of the continent.

southern part of the continent

history of discovery and study of Africa's Cape of Good Hope is linked with the Dutch.There they founded the settlement now known as Cape Town.And there were major expeditions to remote regions of the continent.By the mid-eighteenth century, the Dutch managed to map all the coastal region.Especially outstanding was the expedition in August Frederik Beutler, who made it to the Great Kei River.Olifants River was opened by Jan Dantkartom and Orange found Jacob Coetzee.To the north of the Dutch discovered previously unknown Namkavalend pay more, but then they were not allowed to move heat.

Madagascar

study African history would not be complete without exploring the island.French open it.Etienne Flakur performed several successful expeditions to the interior of the island, and in 1658 he published "The History of the Great Island of Madagascar," which described in detail all studied before.This important document, which is still considered to be very significant.As a result of expeditions to the French managed to establish supremacy on the island, and Madagascar became an official colony.

Russian contribution

Many countries were sent to the mysterious continent expedition.It was no exception and the Russian Empire.Study Russian travelers in Africa was due to the different territories.The central region studied Kovalevsky invited to excavate gold mines ruler of Egypt.He was in Cairo, the Nubian desert, Khartoum and Berbera, Pool Tumat studied and reached its upper reaches, becoming the first European to advanced so far.Another famous scientist became Tsenkovsky, who has studied the Nile Valley.He brought in an amazing collection of Russian natural science exhibits.Africa is carried away and the famous Maclay, who has studied Sudan and Eritrea, parallel conducting zoological research.Finally, it is worth mentioning Juncker and his trip to the equatorial part.He lived for several years in the wild tribes and obtained information about the locals who studies the history of Africa did not know either before or after.