He was captured by a sicilian pirate and taken back to rome as a gift to pope leo x, who baptized him johannes leo. How the continent of africa got its name tripsavvy. The following is from the translation by john pory in 1600. Find out the most popular theories about how the continent of africa got its name, including the words possible roman, greek, and phoenician origins. In 1986, the lebanesefrench author amin maalouf published leo africanus, a historical. Feb 19, 2016 from babylon to america, the prophecy movie by school for prophets attila kakarott duration. The main source for othello was the novella called the hecatommithi, written in 1565 by the italian author, cinthio. The hebrew name for the continent, auphirah is supposedly written as ophir in. In 1550, leo africanus, a muslimborn diplomat and traveler who served pope leo x, produced the first geographical description of africa to be. That would mean the general was named for being from africa. The houses of timbuktu are huts made of claycovered wattles with thatched roofs. He was converted to christianity in 1520, and was freed from slavery, and named johannes leo or other variations depending on the languagedialect.
Shakka ahmose africa is not named after leo scipio africanus. These vague characteristicdriven names would not be inappropriate, if somewhat unfamiliar, names for north africa. The 16th century explorer leo africanus described the cafri as pagan negroes, and one of five principal population groups in africa. Leo africanus is a 1986 novel written in french by amin maalouf, depicting the life of a historical renaissanceera traveler, leo africanus. In the mediterranean he was taken captive by christian pirates and, having shown his exceptional learning, he was given as a slave to pope leo x. He was then educated in fez, and travelled widely in italy and north and west africa. The historian leo africanus 14951554 attributed the origin to the greek word phrike, meaning cold and horror, combined with the negating prefix a, so meaning a land free of cold and horror. He was unanimously respected as the most authoritative source for the political and human geography of the barbary coast and sudanic.
Different sources give different versions of the tribes name, but the most popular is afri. As we show in part 3 of our book, the name alkebulan alkebulam was addressed briefly by leo africanus in his history of africa over 500 years ago. Pope leo x died shortly after leo africanus baptism, and leo left rome, presumably for bologna, where he taught arabic. The 1st century jewish historian flavius josephus asserted that africa was named for epher, grandson of abraham, according to the bibles genesis 25. Educated at fes, in morocco, leo africanus traveled widely as a young man on commercial and diplomatic missions through north africa and may also have visited the city of timbuktu now in mali as well as the valley of the niger river. Leo africanus article about leo africanus by the free. A minor source was leo africanus a geographical history of africa. From babylon to america, the prophecy movie by school for prophets attila kakarott duration. Jul 05, 2017 are there within africa sources confirming that those who lived in the continent gave that name to their own continent. He became a christian, adopting the name johannes leo, and taught arabic in rome. Africa is the worlds second largest continent, both by size and number, after asia. To further leave us in knots, traore opened yet another door for the origin of the name, pointing to author leon the african leo africanus who lived around the turn of the 16th century. The history and description of africa by leo, africanus, ca. Some believe that the word africa came from the romans, who named the land they discovered on the opposite side of the mediterranean.
Another theory claims that the continent was named after africus, a yemenite chieftain who invaded north africa sometime in the second millennium bc. I used to be one of the people who accepted this assumption without inspection as well, but for those who know latin it is apparent to them that his name africanus simply means from africa. Leo africanus was unaware of the actual origins of the name alkebulan however. Phrike means cold and horror, when combined with the negating prefix a, it. What was africas name before scipio africanus named it africa. Description of timbuktu from the description of africa 1526 november 4, 2016 elizabeth.
Jan 31, 2010 leo is said to have died in 1554 in tunis, having reconverted to islam. The pope baptized him, named him for himself giovanni leone, but the man became popularly known as leo africanus because of his skincolor. According to some africans of the galla people of ethiopia, apraka means sunny, hence the term africa, may in fact have african roots. Indeed, renaissance historian leo africanus suggested the greek name as the origin of the continent name. What was africas name before scipio africanus named it. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The man with many names1 pekka masonen the sixteenthcentury andalusi adventurer leo africanus was a household name amidst european geographers for almost three centuries. That the name came from a roman soldier called skippio africanus.
For a long time, the origin of the name africa has been a subject of. The romans wanted to destroy africans connection to their culture and traditions and to change the name of their land was one of the ways. Since very little is actually known about his life, the book fills in the historical episodes, placing leo in the company of many of the key historical figures of his time, including three popes, leo x, adrian vi, and pope clement vii, two ottoman. Leo africanus is a nickname, a name assigned to leo by his italian peers when he was already in his 30s. I could give you specific names historians have dug up. Leo is said to have died in 1554 in tunis, having reconverted to islam. In the early sixteenth century the famous medieval traveller and scholar leo africanus alhasan ibn muhammad alwazan, who had travelled.
His work, the history and description of africa and of the notable things therein contained, was translated from arabic for the first time into latin in 1526. In 1521, he lost his mentor, pope leo x who died that year. Leo africanus, traveler whose writings remained for some 400 years one of europes principal sources of information about islam. Leo africanus14851554 traveler sourcesspanish muslim. Leo was born in granada where the moors had ruled until 1492. Scipio africanus was a talented roman general who commanded the army that defeated hannibal in the final battle of the second punic war in 202 b. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Some believe that the word africa came from the romans, who named the land they discovered on the opposite side of the mediterranean after a berber tribe living in the carthage area now modernday tunisia. Africas name, knowledge and dynamics pambazuka news. Alkebulan, ethiopia, kmt, sudan, etc but none of those names would universally ring true to its ancient inhabitants. A historic explorer leads the way on an epic african journey.
Are there within africa sources confirming that those who lived in the continent gave that name to their own continent. Thus wrote leo africanus, in his fortieth year, in this imaginary autobiography of the famous geographer, adventurer, and scholar hasan alwazzan, who was born in granada in 1488. Never before had the western world read about africa and the orient from the viewpoint of a native i. Roman general scipio africanus defeated general hannibal and thats how africa got it a name. Leo africanus describes timbuktu circa 16th century the name of this kingdom is a modern one, after a city which was built by a king named mansa suleyman in the year 610 of the hegira 1232 ce around twelve miles from a branch of the niger river. The name of this kingdom is a modern one, after a city which was built by a king named mansa suleyman in the year 610 of the hegira 1232 ce around twelve miles from a branch of the niger river. University of california and uploaded to the internet archive by user.
The book was first written in 1550 by a moorish traveller and linguistic scholar known as john leo africanus c. To further leave us in knots, traore opened yet another door for the origin of the name, pointing to author leon the african leo africanus who. One thing is certain, greek and latin have egyptian linguistic influences although both are indoeuropean languages. Ibn alwazzan, known to the west as leo africanus or leo the african, is the writer of description of africa, an authoritative early modern account of north african geography which was.
But the change of sound from ph to f in greek is datable to about the first century, so this cannot really be the origin of the name. Now, as far as the roman is concerned, his name africanus or a name such as scicipio africanus, probably means sicipio of africa. New haven sda temple brooklyn, ny recommended for you. Hassan was his first name, mohammed was his fathers name the prefix ibn means son of. According to him, they were as blacke as pitch, and of a mightie stature, and as some thinke descended of the jews. History and description of africa 1526 leo africanus.
Captured by pirates, he was sent as a slave to pope leo x. Mar 08, 2009 why africa was named after roman general scipio africanus look it up. Another theory says that a medieval traveler named leo africanus suggested that the word africa is derived from the greek word aphike. Hannibal was defeated by the roman general scipio africanus at the battle of zama in 202 bc. His family fled the inquisition and took him to the city of fez, in north africa. Many theories about who named africa have been thrown about. Joannes leo africanus was a berber andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his. Shakespeares sources for othello leo africanus and cinthio. Some historians have dwelled on the greek historian, leo africanus 14951554 hypothesis that africa is from the greek word aprike or aphrike. Educated at fes, in morocco, leo africanus traveled widely as a young man on commercial and diplomatic missions through north africa and may also have visited the city of. One theory suggests that the name africa is derived from the name of a famous european traveler named leo africanus.
The historian leo africanus 14951554 attributed the origin of africa to the greek word aprike or aphrike. Why africa was named after roman general scipio africanus. The historian leo africanus 14951554 attributed the origin to the greek word phrike, meaning cold and horror, combined with the negating prefix a, so. 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. 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. In greek, the root word phrike means cold and horror, but when the prefix a is added to it, it means free of. May 20, 2018 one theory suggests that the name africa is derived from the name of a famous european traveler named leo africanus. Why africa was named after roman general scipio africanus look it up.
It was translated into english in 1600 by john pory. While in egypt 151617, he ascended the nile to aswan. Joannes leo africanus alias alhasan ibn muhammad alwazzan alfasi whew, that name is longer than mine. In the early sixteenth century the famous medieval traveller and scholar leo africanus alhasan ibn. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of leo africanus by amin maalouf. Jan 01, 2017 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 europe. Its landmass holds 54 countries and nine territories. The origins of the continents name africa how africa news. 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. Leo africanus description of west africa 1500 leo africanus. 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. When the romans finally captured carthage, they called the land north africa africa and scipio changed his name to publius cornelius scipio africanus. Jul 19, 20 the history and description of africa africanus, leo on. It is said that africus founded a settlement in his newly conquered land, which he named afrikyah.
In about 1494, leo africanus was born in granada, a city at the foot of the sierra nevada mountains in spain. Leo africanus and the rewriting of history from below. Africa is also one of the oldest names of this continent. Phrike means cold and horror, when combined with the negating prefix a, it means a land free of cold and horror. The name signifies that the person named himself after africa. Born alhassan ibn muhammad alwizzaa alfasi, leo africanus was a native of granada, spain, and was educated in morocco. Leo africanuss geographical history of africa the british.
Little is actually known of the early life of leo except that. Leo africanus was an earlysixteenthcentury traveler who recorded in great detail the life of many remote african kingdoms. It has often been said that africa was named after a roman military general, scipio africanus. Leo africanuss descrittione dellafrica and its sixteenthcentury translations. Jan 31, 2018 some historians have dwelled on the greek historian, leo africanus 14951554 hypothesis that africa is from the greek word aprike or aphrike. For this work, leo became a household name among european geographers. Each culture, ethnic group, nation and language groups have a different wo. The history and description of africa africanus, leo on.
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