An author of arab origins, he is writing in europe, in faulty italian, a text about africa, and addressing european readers at the time when they had very little reliable information about this. The book was dictated in italian by leo africanus, the famed moorish traveler and. Hasan and his family were forced to flee to fez, where he grew up and became a very welloff merchant. Leo africanus description of west africa 1500 leo africanus. In about 1494, leo africanus was born in granada, a city at the foot of the sierra nevada.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the history and description of africa and of the notable things therein contained. The history and description of africa by leo, africanus, ca. You will certainly obtain different means to make a bargain and obtain guide leo africanus, by amin maalouf as recognized, nowadays. It relates, particularly at times and often imaginatively, the story of those who did not make it to the new world. The history and description of africa v1 the history and description of africa v1 by africanus, leo author jan172007 paperback by leo africanus 17 jan 2007 paperback. And of the notable things therein contained, leo africanus issues 9294 of works issued by the hakluyt society. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Description of africa, a largely firsthand geographical book, which was published under the title. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are.
For several years he traveled up and down the length of italy, perfecting his mastery of italian. A historic explorer leads the way on an epic african journey. The book was first written in 1550 by a moorish traveller and linguistic scholar known as john leo africanus c. Jul 01, 2019 the history and description of africa by leo africanus. In fact, the only inhabited places are three large villages and some huts spread about among the palm groves wiki. Book description the publications of the hakluyt society founded in 1846 made available edited and sometimes translated early accounts of exploration. The story follows hasan from granada in spain, throughout north africa, rome, and various other places. At the end of the first book of leo africanuss description of africa, the author reflects, through two stories, on his extraordinary situation. The history and description of africa open library. The history and description of africa by leo, africanus. The narrator of amin maaloufs historical novel, hasan alwazzan who came to. The history and description of africa and of the notable things therein contained volume 1 of the history and description of africa. The publications of the hakluyt society founded in 1846 made available edited and sometimes translated early accounts of exploration.
Joannes leo africanus was a berber andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his book descrittione dellafrica description of africa centered on the. Merely said, the leo africanus description of west africa 1500 leo africanus is universally compatible considering any devices to read. This summary of leo africanus includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. This work describes the cultures, religions and politics of northern africa. Leo africanus by amin maalouf goodreads share book. The description of africa by leo africanus historywiz. Leo africanus14851554 traveler sourcesspanish muslim. The first edition of the novel was published in 1986, and was written by amin maalouf. Leo africanuss geographical history of africa the british. The paperback of the the history and description of africa. When leo x died in 1521, leo africanus found himself without an advocate in high places, and he realized it was time to lie low for a while.
Apr 20, 2011 leo africanus writings on africa had a considerable influence on all later writers on africa. The history and description of africa by leo africanus. At the time of leo s journey there, it was the centre of a busy trade carried on by traders in african products, gold, printed cottons and slavesand in islamic books. Aug 05, 2012 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The identity of the sitter is unknown but suggested to possibly be leo africanus 1.
But all of these people were at most mere colonists, and influenced the population of the country very little. In 1550, leo africanus, a muslimborn diplomat and traveler who served pope leo x, produced the first geographical description of africa to be published in. Born a muslim called hasan alwazzan in the 1480s, he became a christian called leo africanus. Leo africanus was an earlysixteenthcentury traveler who recorded in great detail the life of many remote african kingdoms. As a young man he traveled all over north africa and west africa on trade and diplomatic missions with his father, visiting the songhai empire in 151515. Leo africa is a wildlife monitoring, conservation and sustainable living volunteer project based in a section of the marakele national park, south africa.
University of california and uploaded to the internet archive by user tpb. Join our project to make a real difference in conservation and have a once in a lifetime experience. It does offer a 30day free trial, but after the trial youll have to pay. Cambridge core historical geography the history and description of africa by leo africanus edited by robert brown skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. He became a christian, adopting the name johannes leo, and taught arabic in rome. Leo africanus by amin maalouf overdrive rakuten overdrive. The first series, which ran from 1847 to 1899, consists of 100 books containing published or previously unpublished works by authors from christopher columbus to sir francis drake, and covering voyages to the new world, to china and japan, to. It is also thought to have influenced shakespeare in his depiction of othellos virtues and vices who was the moorish author. Leo africanus15th century geographer extraordinaire. Hasan ibn muhammad alwazzan, better known as joannes leo africanus, was born in the muslim kingdom of granada just a few years before it. The history and description of africa by leo africanus, 9781108012904, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Description of africa, and of the memorable things contained. Leo africanus is best known for his book, description of africa.
Two insets include, at left, the colonies of the gold coast, and below that, al magreb northwest africa after leo africanus, the moorish diplomat and author best known for his book descrittione dellafrica description of africa describing the geography of north africa. Leo africanus is a beautiful book of tales about people who are forced to accept choices made for them by someone else. The history and description of africa v1 the history and description of africa v1 by africanus, leo author jan172007 paperback. Leo africanus or alhasan ibn muhammad alwazzan,is a terrific tale retold by amin maalouf.
Cambridge core historical geography the history and description of africa by leo africanus edited by robert brown. History and description of africa 1526 leo africanus introduction alhassan ibnmuhammad alwazzan alfasi, better known as leo africanus, was probably born in the 1460s in granada, the last muslim toehold in spain, but was raised in fez in modern morocco. Little is actually known of the early life of leo except that. This book, the history and description of africa, by leo africanus, is a replication of a book originally published before 1896. At the end of the first book of leo africanuss description of africa, the author reflects, through two stories, on his. The history and description of africa and of the notable things therein contained. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read leo africanus. Description of africa, a largely firsthand geographical book, which was published under the title della descrittione dellafrica et delle cose notabili che ivi sono by giovanni battista ramusio in his collection of travellers accounts delle navigationi e viaggi in venice in 1550, contained the first detailed descriptions published in europe of the barbary coast modern morocco, algeria, and. He was captured by a sicilian pirate and taken back to rome as a gift to pope leo x, who baptized him johannes leo. While in rome, he wrote the first trilingual dictionary latin, arabic and hebrew, as well as his celebrated description of africa, for which he is still remembered as leo africanus. The first series, which ran from 1847 to 1899, consists of 100 books containing published or previously unpublished works by authors from christopher columbus to sir francis drake, and covering voyages to the new world, to china and japan, to russia and to africa and india. The book was first written in 1550 by a moorish traveller and.
Title page of leo africanuss description of africa, published in 1550. Hasan ibn muhammad alwazzan, better known as joannes leo africanus, was born in the muslim kingdom of granada just a few years before it was conquered by the christians in 1492. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Leo africanus, traveler whose writings remained for some 400 years one of europes principal sources of information about islam. Captured by pirates, he was sent as a slave to pope leo x. The history and description of africa volume 3 by leo. Pdf leo africanus book by amin maalouf free download. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close to the original as possible. The history and description of africa and of the notable. This is a small kingdom, and of mediocre condition compared to the other kingdoms of the blacks. Written by alhassan ibnmohammed alwezaz alfasi, a moor, baptised as giovanni leone, but better known as leo africanus. And of the notable things therein contained by leo africanus, robert brown editor, john pory translator. The history and description of africa and of the notable things therein contained kindle edition by africanus, leo.
Description of timbuktu from the description of africa 1526 november 4, 2016 elizabeth. The history and description of africa volume 3 book. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 368 pages and is available in paperback format. The same manuscript also contained his original name alhasan ibn muhammad alwazzan alfasi. Leo africanus who visited the region in 15091510 gives a description in his book descrittione dellafrica. Hasan and his family were forced to flee to fez, where he grew up and became a very welloff. Pdf leo africanus book by amin maalouf free download 368. A big book, covering frances politics and policies with regards to africa in particular its former colonies. Leo africanuss geographical history of africa the british library. A geographical historie of africa 1600 was the authoritative work on the geography of africa at the time and was significant in shaping the idea of africa for early modern europeans. Why must choose the inconvenience one if there is simple.
He settled in morocco, and traveled broadly through north africa. But war is brewing, and leo is lucky to be able to escape beseiged rome and set sail back to africa. Table of contents i the book of granada the year of salma alhurra the year of the amulets the year of. Leo africanus article about leo africanus by the free. History and description of africa 1526 leo africanus. Born alhassan ibn muhammad alwizzaa alfasi, leo africanus was a native of granada, spain, and was educated in morocco. The book, a detailed account of africa, its trade routes, geography, terrain, and people was an exceptionally important source of information on the continent and is generally considered the first book written by a person of primarily african descent. His stories were considered valuable descriptions of the muslim world for hundreds of year and although a work of fiction, based on hasan alwazzans writings. The history and description of africa and of the notable things therein contained volume i. Obtain the profit by buying the book leo africanus, by amin maalouf here. The history and description of africa 1896 edition open library. While in rome, he wrote the first trilingual dictionary latin, arabic and hebrew, as well as his celebrated description of africa, for.
1547 1394 1133 443 897 770 243 958 285 276 530 879 688 66 1165 625 286 1342 716 81 930 93 428 80 347 390 1411 354 1226 716 582 347 805 1378 710 1499 45 733 886