Leo Africanus

thumb| Johannes Leo Africanus (born al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Wazzān al-Zayyātī al-Fasī; c. 1494 – c. 1554) was an Andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his 1526 book Cosmographia et geographia de Affrica, later published by Giovanni Battista Ramusio as Descrittione dell'Africa (Description of Africa) in 1550, centered on the geography of the Maghreb and Nile Valley. The book was regarded among his scholarly peers in Europe as the most authoritative treatise on the subject until the modern exploration of Africa. Quotes Descrittione dell'Africa (1550) The ancient Africans were much addicted to idolatrie, even as certain of the Persians are at this day, some of whom worship the sunne, and others the fire, for their gods. For the saide Africans had in times past magnificent and most stately temples built and dedicated, as well to the honour of the sunne as of the fire. In these temples day and night they kept fire kindled, giving diligent heed that it might not at any time be extinguished. Book 1 (tr. John Pory, 1600) The fifteene kingdomes of the land of Negros knowen to us, are all situate upon the river of Niger, and upon other rivers which fall thereinto. And all the land of Negros standeth betweene two vast deserts, for on the one side lieth the maine desert betweene Numidia and it, which extendeth it selfe unto this very land: and the south side thereof adjoineth upon another desert, which stretcheth from thence to the maine Ocean: in which desert are infinite nations unknowen to us, both by reason of the huge distance of place, and also in regarde of the diversitie of languages and religions. They have no traffique at all with our people, but we have heard oftentimes of their traffique with the inhabitants of the Ocean sea shore. Book 7 (tr. John Pory, 1600) External links Category:1490s births Category:1550s deaths Category:Authors from Spain Category:Travel writers Category:People from Granada