Thanks for the post! I've been fascinated with ancient exploration in Africa since reading Rhys Carpenter's Beyond the Pillars of Hercules. The monsoonal African-Indian-Roman trade and cultural exchange is just incredible.
The most interesting part in all this, in my opinion, is that when the Romans went to the furthest sides of the continent known at the time, they found that trade and regular contacts had been established centuries before them. On the Atlantic side was the market at Mogador established since the Carthaginian times; on the Indian Ocean side was the emporium at Rhapta that was linked by "some ancient right" to the ports of Yemen. Meaning the Romans weren't making new discoveries but were only the first to provide written information about them!
The ability of Carthaginian navigators is truly astounding! What drove them to explore the farthest African coasts? Rumours of resources, new possible trading partners, conquest?
Funnily, if I recall they perhaps had the earliest recorded interactions with gorillas.
Thanks for the post! I've been fascinated with ancient exploration in Africa since reading Rhys Carpenter's Beyond the Pillars of Hercules. The monsoonal African-Indian-Roman trade and cultural exchange is just incredible.
The most interesting part in all this, in my opinion, is that when the Romans went to the furthest sides of the continent known at the time, they found that trade and regular contacts had been established centuries before them. On the Atlantic side was the market at Mogador established since the Carthaginian times; on the Indian Ocean side was the emporium at Rhapta that was linked by "some ancient right" to the ports of Yemen. Meaning the Romans weren't making new discoveries but were only the first to provide written information about them!
The ability of Carthaginian navigators is truly astounding! What drove them to explore the farthest African coasts? Rumours of resources, new possible trading partners, conquest?
Funnily, if I recall they perhaps had the earliest recorded interactions with gorillas.
I believe it's because they built their society around navigation and trade across the Mediterranean, so the atlantic coast was the natural next step
Mr. Isaac Samuel this is a Very Interesting article. Thank you for sharing !
Thank you too Karl.
Great information where can I go to dig and learn more about the civilization of Kush
Thanks, one of my first articles on this site was about the kingdom of Kush, i thinks its a good introduction https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/the-legacy-of-kushs-empire-in-global?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks!