Lesson 13

EUROPEAN EXPLORERS IN WEST AFRICA

 Dr. 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

-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 .

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. .

Henry Morton Stanley - Named L. Victoria after the Queen of England.

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