Leo Africanus (1485 –Leo Africanus (1485 –1554)1554)

Leo Africanus Leo Africanus (1485 – (1485 – 1554)1554) Leo Africanus was born Leo Africanus was born El El

Hasan ben Muhammed el-Hasan ben Muhammed el-Wazzen-ez-Zayyati Wazzen-ez-Zayyati in Spain, in in Spain, in 1485.1485.

He was given the name Leo He was given the name Leo Africanus by Pope Leo X, who Africanus by Pope Leo X, who commissioned him to survey commissioned him to survey Africa in the early 16Africa in the early 16thth century. century.

He visited Timbuktu during the He visited Timbuktu during the Songhai Empire. Although it Songhai Empire. Although it was past its peak, Timbuktu was past its peak, Timbuktu was still a busy trading town was still a busy trading town and center of learning.and center of learning.

His accounts provided most of His accounts provided most of what Europeans knew about what Europeans knew about the continent for several the continent for several centuries.centuries.

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

Timbuktu is a trading town in West Africa at the Timbuktu is a trading town in West Africa at the southern edge of the Sahara desert. southern edge of the Sahara desert.

It began as a trading post around 1100 CE. It began as a trading post around 1100 CE. Gold, cloth, and slaves were Gold, cloth, and slaves were

exchanged in the markets of exchanged in the markets of Timbuktu and Timbuktu and transported north. transported north.

Items such as salt were Items such as salt were transported south by West transported south by West Africans. Africans.

This trade made the town This trade made the town grow. grow.

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

“The houses of Timbuktu are huts made of clay-covered wattles with thatched roofs.”

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

““The inhabitants are very rich, The inhabitants are very rich, especially the strangers who have especially the strangers who have settled in the country; so much so that settled in the country; so much so that the current king has given two of his the current king has given two of his daughters in marriage to two brothers, daughters in marriage to two brothers, both businessmen, on account of their both businessmen, on account of their wealth.” wealth.”

““The women of the city The women of the city maintain the custom of maintain the custom of veiling their faces, except veiling their faces, except for the slaves who sell all for the slaves who sell all the foodstuffs.” the foodstuffs.”

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

““The royal court is magnificent and very well The royal court is magnificent and very well organized. When the king goes from one city to organized. When the king goes from one city to another with the people of his court, he rides a another with the people of his court, he rides a camel and the horses are led by hand by camel and the horses are led by hand by servants.”servants.”

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

““If fighting becomes necessary, the If fighting becomes necessary, the servants mount the camels and all the servants mount the camels and all the soldiers mount on horseback.” soldiers mount on horseback.”

““This king makes war only upon This king makes war only upon neighboring enemies and upon those neighboring enemies and upon those who do not want to pay him tribute.” who do not want to pay him tribute.”

““When he has gained a victory, When he has gained a victory, he has all of them – even the he has all of them – even the children – sold in the market in children – sold in the market in Timbuktu.” Timbuktu.”

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

““There are in Timbuktu numerous judges, There are in Timbuktu numerous judges, teachers and priests, all properly appointed teachers and priests, all properly appointed by the king. He greatly honours learning. by the king. He greatly honours learning. Many hand-written books imported from Many hand-written books imported from Barbary are also sold.” Barbary are also sold.”

““There is more profit made from this There is more profit made from this commerce than from all other merchandise.”commerce than from all other merchandise.”

Timbuktu:Timbuktu:

““Instead of coined Instead of coined money, pure gold money, pure gold nuggets are used; nuggets are used; and for small and for small purchases, purchases, cowrie cowrie shellsshells which have which have been carried from been carried from Persia, and of Persia, and of which 400 equal a which 400 equal a ducat.” ducat.”

Think It ThroughThink It Through

What impressions do you get What impressions do you get about the early civilizations of about the early civilizations of West Africa from reading this West Africa from reading this account?account?

Is this a valuable source of primary Is this a valuable source of primary evidence?evidence?

Explain your response. Explain your response.

Ibn BattutaIbn Battuta

A Berber (North A Berber (North African) traveler who African) traveler who traveled to Mali and traveled to Mali and other nations as far other nations as far away as China.away as China.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watchwww.youtube.com/watch?v?v=9Sqo7THZNh0=9Sqo7THZNh0