Using the writings of prominent European explorers, this volume provides an exceptional introduction to the history of African exploration and the resulting European perspectives and beliefs.


* Provides readers with the actual writings and impressions of explorers who first probed Africa

* Balances breadth and depth by providing enough material to present a well-rounded understanding of each explorer, while also featuring an adequate number of explorers to speak to the broad history of African discovery

* Offers analysis of primary sources to reveal how each document influenced foreigners' attitudes on Africa at the points of first contact

* Integrates the narratives of lesser-known explorers who have often been overshadowed by the attention paid to their more-famous contemporaries