Discovering Africa's History.

The discovery of Africa is a complex and contentious issue, as it is difficult to pinpoint a specific moment in time when the continent was "discovered." Africa has been inhabited by human populations for hundreds of thousands of years, with evidence of early human ancestors found throughout the continent.

However, from a European perspective, the "discovery" of Africa is often linked to the era of European exploration and colonialism in the 15th and 16th centuries. During this time, European explorers such as Portuguese sailors Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama, and the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus, sailed around the coast of Africa and across the Atlantic to the Americas.

One of the most significant explorations of Africa was led by the Scottish explorer David Livingstone, who set out on a series of expeditions across the continent in the mid-19th century. Livingstone was one of the first Europeans to travel deep into the interior of Africa, mapping previously uncharted territories and documenting the flora, fauna, and cultures of the continent. He also famously sought to end the slave trade in Africa, and his travels inspired generations of explorers and missionaries.

The "discovery" of Africa also had a significant impact on the continent itself. European colonization and imperialism had devastating effects on the people and cultures of Africa, leading to the exploitation of natural resources, the forced labor of indigenous populations, and the establishment of oppressive political regimes. The legacy of European exploration and colonialism is still felt in Africa today, as the continent continues to struggle with the legacies of centuries of exploitation and oppression.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of African voices and perspectives in the study of the continent's history and culture. Many scholars and activists have sought to challenge the Eurocentric narrative of African history, and to center the experiences and contributions of African peoples in discussions of the continent's past and present.