Lesson 13 EUROPEAN EXPLORERS in WEST AFRICA Dr. Mungo Park
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Lesson 13 EUROPEAN EXPLORERS IN WEST AFRICA Dr. Mungo Park John Lander Richard Lander Gordon Laing Heinrich Barth Mary Henrietta Kingsley DR. MUNGO PARK He was sent to Africa in 1797 He was sponsored by African Association (AA) He was sent to West Africa to; -Trace for the course of River Niger -Find out if River Niger was navigable He drowned at Bussa falls He made two journeys to West Africa. THE LANDERS These were brothers; John Lander and Richard Lander. They were sent to complete the work of the late Mungo Park who drowned at Bussa falls. NB; John Lander found out that River Niger was navigable and he recommended British companies to start trade with West Africa. HEINRICH BARTH He was sent by the British Government to Africa. He was sent to stop slave trade in Central Africa. 1 MARY HENRIETTER KINGSLEY She was the first female explorer to West Africa. She explored most parts of West Africa. She fought against tropical diseases in West Africa. She died of dysentery in West Africa. Problems faced by early explorers in Africa . Attacks from hostile tribes like; Nandi Masai and Wazembe . Attacks from dangerous animals . Attacks from tropical diseases . Language difficulties . Little knowledge about Africa’s interior (scanty geographical knowledge) . Harsh climatic conditions . Shortage of food and drinking water (Safe) . Impassable physical features . Theft of their items by African porters . They suffered from fatigue . Shortage of medical supplies Qn: How were the following factors a problem to early Explorers in Africa, a. Hostile tribes? Hostile tribes like Nandi and Masai scared away early explorers Hostile tribes refused early explorers to pass through their land Hostile tribes attacked and killed early explorers. b. Tropical diseases? Tropical diseases attacked and killed early explorers Tropical diseases like malaria scared away early explorers. 2 c. Dangerous wild animals? Dangerous wild animals attacked and killed early explorers Dangerous wild animals scared away early explorers. d. Physical features Some physical features were difficult to pass through/cross. Some impassable physical features like lakes led to drowning of early explorers. e. Language difficulties? Early explorers could not understand native languages (Local languages) Africans could not understand foreign languages. f. Harsh climate Harsh climate like high temperatures and heavy rainfall scared away early explorers. Effects of early European explorers in Africa Qn: How did the coming of explorers affect Africa? . Explorers paved way for colonialist . Explorers paved way for missionaries . Explorers renamed Africa’s physical features . Explorers linked Africa to outside world . Explorers opened Africa to external trade . Explorers signed treaties of friendship with African kings and chiefs . Explorers stopped slave trade in Africa Negative effects Explorers acted as spies for Africa’s raw materials Explorers led to the coming of colonialists and their disadvantages. 3 ACTIVITY 13 1. Name the European explorer who drowned at Bussa falls. 2. Give one reason why West Africa is called a White man’s Grave? 3. State any two problems that explorers faced in Africa. 4. How were wild animals a threat to explorers in Africa? 5. Match explorers in list A to their contributions in list B A B John Speke - Saw and named Victoria falls. Dr. David Livingstone - Reported that R. Niger was navigable John Lander - Proved that L. Victoria was the source of R. Nile. Henry Morton Stanley - Named L. Victoria after the Queen of England. 4 .