Leo Africanus Flashcards
Who was Leo Africanus?
- Leo Africanus was a Muslim born in Spain, his family was expelled from the country because he was a Muslim and they moved to Morocco (North Africa).
- When he was 16 years old he went with his uncle to Timbuktu.
- Leo was a traveller. During one of his travels he was captured by European pirates and sold to Pope Leo X as an educated slave.
- The pope gave Leo his freedom, his new name and baptised him as a Christian.
- Not many people new about Africa, so Leo published a document called African Geography in which he gave detailed descriptions about trade routes in Africa.
- Pope asked Leo to go to Africa and surveyed the continent. So Leo wrote a book called Description of Africa in which he gave detailed descriptions of African trade routes, geography and the people there.
Where did he visit?
Leo Africanus crossed the Sahara Desert to visit Timbuktu in Mali with his uncle. He also surveyed Africa for Pope Leo X and he published a document called African Geography in which he gave detailed descriptions about trade routes and he also rote a book called Description of Africa in which he gave detailed descriptions of African trade routes, geography and people.
What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?
A primary source is written or said by the person first hand for example Leo Africanus described the experience he had while travelling along a caravan route through the Sahara Desert North of Timbuktu. A secondary source is written or said by an eyewitness or person who heard about something second hand.
