- Explorers like David Livingstone, John Kirk, Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke became household names. Their exploits were well published by missionary press and were eagerly read by British public. Helped open up the interior of Africa by producing maps and publishing their findings. Made Empire appear exciting.
- DAVID LIVINGSTONE:
- Began travels as a missionary doctor in South Africa, 1841. Explored deserts, lakes and rivers. Named infamous ‘Victoria Falls’. Crossed continent from West to East before returning to Britain and publishing books, conducting lectures at Cambridge University and recounting geography, mineralogy, diseases and languages he’d seen abroad.
- Received funding from British government in 1858 to return to Africa and ‘try to open up a path for commerce and Christianity’.
- Portrayed as a martyr who saved Britain when he was lost and found by Henry Stanley in 1871.
- JOHN KIRK
- Helped explore waterways with Livingstone. Appointed chief medical officer for his Zambezi expedition. Collected many aquatic specimens which he wrote about and sent back to Britain.
- Returned to Africa in 1868 as medical officer and Vice-Consul of Zanzibar, which he helped keep as a client state of Britain. Initiated British treaties that ensured Sultan outlawed Zanzibar’s slave trade and with British aid, commerce grew.
- SIR RICHARD BURTON
- Adventurer in 1850s famous for stories of Muslim life and mannerisms. Took visits to Islamic cities such as Mecca, where no western Christian had ever been. Took expeditions in Somaliland in 1855 and Zanzibar in 1857 & 1858. Competition between John Speke after he contracted malaria led to both debating source of Nile, which Speke thought to be Victoria Falls.
- DAVID LIVINGSTONE:
Speke’s death made this impossible and Burton eventually went on to write several books and volumes about his exploration in Africa, particularly Western. Produced various translations of texts such as the Kama Sutra. Wrote essays on pornography, homosexuality and sexual education of women.