1.4.1

Explorers

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The Role of Explorers: David Livingstone

Explorers were drawn to Britain's colonies. Once 'on the spot', these men came to wield considerable influence in Britain’s Empire.

David Livingstone

David Livingstone

  • Livingstone was a Scottish explorer. He was part of the London Missionary Society. He wanted to spread Christianity and commerce in Africa.
  • He first travelled to South Africa in 1841. Then, Livingstone fell out with his travelling missionary partner in Botswana and returned to the UK.
  • In 1858, the British government-funded Livingstone in an expedition along the Zambezi River. He aimed to find natural resources and sent 2,000 letters home from his travels.
  • In 1866, Livingstone wanted to find the source of the River Nile.
  • In 1873, Livingstone died of malaria and dysentery in what is now Zambia.
Livingstone on slavery

Livingstone on slavery

  • Livingstone was anti-slavery. He said on slavery "to overdraw its evil is a simple impossibility".
  • In 1871, on his expedition to find the source of the River Nile, he saw 400 local African men being killed by the Arab ruler & slaver Dugumbe's army.
  • Local people were often captured and sold to Western Europeans to be sold in the slave trade.

The Role of Explorers: Kirk, Burton & Speke

Explorers were drawn to Britain's colonies. Once 'on the spot', these men came to wield considerable influence in Britain’s Empire.

John Kirk

John Kirk

  • Kirk was a Scottish physician and botanist who worked alongside Livingstone.
  • John Kirk went on Livingstone's expedition to find natural resources along the Zambezi River between 1858 and 1864.
  • In 1870, Kirk became the acting British Consul in Zanzibar. He wanted to abolish the slave trade on the island of Zanzibar.
  • Sultan Barghash was the Omani ruler of Zanzibar. Kirk pressured Bargash to abolish the slave trade on the island of Zanzibar and succeeded.
Richard Francis Burton

Richard Francis Burton

  • Burton was a linguist and a scholar who was fascinated by Muslim life and manners.
  • Early in his life, Burton was a captain in the East India Company's army.
  • He wrote 43 books on his travels and brought Eastern ideas to the Western world e.g. Kama Sutra (1883) and Arabian Nights (1885).
  • Despite his ability to speak many languages and experience of African and Arabian culture, Burton co-founded the Anthropological Society with Dr. James Hunt. This society promoted the racist view that humans of different races have different genetic origins, with some going as far to state that different races are of a different species. This was known as 'scientific racism'.
John Hanning Speke

John Hanning Speke

  • Hanning Speke worked alongside and in competition with Burton. The two had many public disputes.
  • Speke and Burton tried to find the source of the River Nile together.
  • Speke died in a mysterious shooting incident in 1864, aged 37.
Jump to other topics
1

High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1

Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time1.1.2Key Questions About Empires1.1.3Expansion into Africa1.1.4History of Egypt1.1.5Control of Egypt1.1.6Control of Sudan
1.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India1.2.2The British Raj1.2.3International Relations with other Powers1.2.4Scramble for Africa1.2.5The Informal Empire
1.3

Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce
1.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers1.4.2Missionaries1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism
1.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India1.5.2Relations with South Africa1.5.3British-Boer Relations
2

Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1

Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa
2.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India2.2.2Policy in Egypt2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers
2.3

Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade2.3.2Costs of the Empire2.3.3Debates Over Trade
2.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism
2.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India2.5.2Challenges in Africa2.5.3Challenges in South Africa2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran
3

Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1

Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW13.1.2Palestine3.1.3Ireland & WW13.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire
3.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions3.2.3Imperial Defence
3.3

Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW13.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2
3.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators3.4.2Trusteeship3.4.3Gandhi3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins3.4.6Imperialist Ideals
3.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-19473.5.2The Middle East and Africa
4

The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1

Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia
4.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW24.2.2The 'Winds of Change'4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 19564.2.4International Relations 1947-1967
4.3

Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2
4.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism
4.5

Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire
4.6

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 19474.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

Practice questions on Explorers

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which of these are true of Livingstone?True / false
  2. 2
    In what year did Livingstone want to find the source of the River Nile?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which of these are true of John Kirk?True / false
  4. 4
    Complete the facts about Hanning Speke. Fill in the list
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Products of Trade & Commerce

Missionaries