what were the causes of european exploration of africa in the 19th century
European exploration of Africa
Africa is named for the Afri people who settled in the area of current - day Tunisia . The Roman province of Africa spanned the Mediterranean coast of what is now Libya , Tunisia and Algeria . The parts of North Africa north of the Sahara were well known in antiquity . Prior to the 2nd century BC , however , Greek geographers were unaware that the land mass then known as Libya expanded south of the Sahara , assuming that the desert bounded on the outer Ocean . Indeed , Alexander the Great , according to Plutarchus ' Lives , considered sailing from the mouths of the Indus back to Macedonia passing south of Africa as a shortcut compared to the land route . Even Eratosthenes around 200 BC still assumed an extent of the landmass no further south than the Horn of Africa .
Africa is named for the Afri people who settled in the area of current - day Tunisia . The Roman province of Africa spanned the Mediterranean coast of what is now Libya , Tunisia and Algeria . The parts of North Africa north of the Sahara were well known in antiquity . Prior to the 2nd century BC , however , Greek geographers were unaware that the land mass then known as Libya expanded south of the Sahara , assuming that the desert bounded on the outer Ocean . Indeed , Alexander the Great , according to Plutarchus ' Lives , considered sailing from the mouths of the Indus back to Macedonia passing south of Africa as a shortcut compared to the land route . Even Eratosthenes around 200 BC still assumed an extent of the landmass no further south than the Horn of Africa .