Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-1-explorers

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa.md) › Explorers

# Explorers

History: AQA A Level The British Empire, topic 1.4.1

## 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/36290a98-882d-4894-8ee6-160c1b680a49/david-livingstone.jpg)

- 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/36290a98-882d-4894-8ee6-160c1b680a49/david-livingstone.jpg)

- 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/e79e152b-8dc2-4975-a5d1-007f1ee9cd21/Screenshot%202019-04-29%20at%2011.03.54.png)

- 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/1b5bbcd5-8e58-43e6-abab-1b0e395e1299/Screenshot%202019-04-29%20at%2011.04.20.png)

- 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/c8eeb72b-8146-4b16-a956-95c0527681cb/Screenshot%202019-04-29%20at%2011.04.58.png)

- 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.

## Test yourself on Explorers

- Which of these are true of Livingstone?
- In what year did Livingstone want to find the source of the River Nile?
- Which of these are true of John Kirk?
- Complete the facts about Hanning Speke.

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/4dd48474-7381-4a8b-8d47-f52ec6b25dfd/section/c04b7fbe-b4ac-4544-8b34-2cc1b79a14a7/session)

- Previous topic: [1.3.3 Products of Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-3-products-of-trade-and-commerce.md)
- Next topic: [1.4.2 Missionaries](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-2-missionaries.md)

## History: AQA A Level The British Empire contents

### 1 High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
- 1.1 Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
  - [1.1.1 Empires over Time](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-1-empires-over-time.md)
  - [1.1.2 Key Questions About Empires](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-2-key-questions-about-empires.md)
  - [1.1.3 Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-3-expansion-into-africa.md)
  - [1.1.4 History of Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-4-history-of-egypt.md)
  - [1.1.5 Control of Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-5-control-of-egypt.md)
  - [1.1.6 Control of Sudan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-6-control-of-sudan.md)
- 1.2 Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
  - [1.2.1 The British Empire & India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-1-the-british-empire-and-india.md)
  - [1.2.2 The British Raj](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-2-the-british-raj.md)
  - [1.2.3 International Relations with other Powers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-3-international-relations-with-other-powers.md)
  - [1.2.4 Scramble for Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-4-scramble-for-africa.md)
  - [1.2.5 The Informal Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-5-the-informal-empire.md)
- 1.3 Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
  - [1.3.1 Trade & Commerce in the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-1-trade-and-commerce-in-the-empire.md)
  - [1.3.2 Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-2-infrastructure-of-trade-and-commerce.md)
  - [1.3.3 Products of Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-3-products-of-trade-and-commerce.md)
- 1.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
  - [1.4.1 Explorers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-1-explorers.md)
  - [1.4.2 Missionaries](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-2-missionaries.md)
  - [1.4.3 Traders & Colonial Administrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-3-traders-and-colonial-administrators.md)
  - [1.4.4 Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-4-government-attitudes-towards-imperialism.md)
- 1.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
  - [1.5.1 Relations with India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-1-relations-with-india.md)
  - [1.5.2 Relations with South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-2-relations-with-south-africa.md)
  - [1.5.3 British-Boer Relations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-3-british-boer-relations.md)

### 2 Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
- 2.1 Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
  - [2.1.1 Consolidation & Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-1-consolidation-and-expansion-into-africa.md)
  - [2.1.2 Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-2-consolidation-and-expansion-in-south-africa.md)
  - [2.1.3 Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-3-historical-interpretations-expansion-into-africa.md)
- 2.2 Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
  - [2.2.1 Policy in India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-1-policy-in-india.md)
  - [2.2.2 Policy in Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-2-policy-in-egypt.md)
  - [2.2.3 Native Policy in Colonies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-3-native-policy-in-colonies.md)
  - [2.2.4 International Relations with Other Powers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-4-international-relations-with-other-powers.md)
- 2.3 Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
  - [2.3.1 The Benefits of Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-1-the-benefits-of-trade.md)
  - [2.3.2 Costs of the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-2-costs-of-the-empire.md)
  - [2.3.3 Debates Over Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-3-debates-over-trade.md)
- 2.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
  - [2.4.1 Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-1-key-administrators-chamberlain-and-rhodes.md)
  - [2.4.2 Key Administrators - Baring & Milner](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-2-key-administrators-baring-and-milner.md)
  - [2.4.3 Key Administrators - Curzon](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-3-key-administrators-curzon.md)
  - [2.4.4 Government Attitudes to the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-4-government-attitudes-to-the-empire.md)
  - [2.4.5 National Efficiency & the Boer War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-5-national-efficiency-and-the-boer-war.md)
  - [2.4.6 Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-6-popular-attitudes-towards-imperialism.md)
- 2.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
  - [2.5.1 Challenges in India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-1-challenges-in-india.md)
  - [2.5.2 Challenges in Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-2-challenges-in-africa.md)
  - [2.5.3 Challenges in South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-3-challenges-in-south-africa.md)
  - [2.5.4 Historical Interpretations of the Boer War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-4-historical-interpretations-of-the-boer-war.md)
  - [2.5.5 Relations & Business with Iran](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-5-relations-and-business-with-iran.md)

### 3 Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
- 3.1 Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
  - [3.1.1 Impact of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-1-impact-of-ww1.md)
  - [3.1.2 Palestine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-2-palestine.md)
  - [3.1.3 Ireland & WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-3-ireland-and-ww1.md)
  - [3.1.4 Impact of WW2 on the British Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-4-impact-of-ww2-on-the-british-empire.md)
- 3.2 Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
  - [3.2.1 Administration in India & Palestine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-1-administration-in-india-and-palestine.md)
  - [3.2.2 Administration in Iraq & the Dominions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-2-administration-in-iraq-and-the-dominions.md)
  - [3.2.3 Imperial Defence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-3-imperial-defence.md)
- 3.3 Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
  - [3.3.1 Economic Impact of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-1-economic-impact-of-ww1.md)
  - [3.3.2 Inter-War Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-2-inter-war-trade-and-commerce.md)
  - [3.3.3 Economic Impact of WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-3-economic-impact-of-ww2.md)
- 3.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
  - [3.4.1 Colonial Administrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-1-colonial-administrators.md)
  - [3.4.2 Trusteeship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-2-trusteeship.md)
  - [3.4.3 Gandhi](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-3-gandhi.md)
  - [3.4.4 Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-4-montagu-haig-and-linlithgow.md)
  - [3.4.5 Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-5-cameron-mitchell-cohen-and-furse-african-admins.md)
  - [3.4.6 Imperialist Ideals](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-6-imperialist-ideals.md)
- 3.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
  - [3.5.1 Ireland & India 1914-1947](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-5-1-ireland-and-india-1914-1947.md)
  - [3.5.2 The Middle East and Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-5-2-the-middle-east-and-africa.md)

### 4 The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
- 4.1 Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
  - [4.1.1 Reasons for Decolonisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-1-reasons-for-decolonisation.md)
  - [4.1.2 Decolonisation in East & West Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-2-decolonisation-in-east-and-west-africa.md)
  - [4.1.3 Decolonisation in Central & South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-3-decolonisation-in-central-and-south-africa.md)
  - [4.1.4 Decolonisation in Asia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-4-decolonisation-in-asia.md)
- 4.2 Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
  - [4.2.1 Relations & Business with Iran after WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-1-relations-and-business-with-iran-after-ww2.md)
  - [4.2.2 The 'Winds of Change'](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-2-the-winds-of-change.md)
  - [4.2.3 The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-3-the-suez-canal-crisis-1956.md)
  - [4.2.4 International Relations 1947-1967](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-4-international-relations-1947-1967.md)
- 4.3 Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
  - [4.3.1 The Economic Impact of WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-3-1-the-economic-impact-of-ww2.md)
- 4.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
  - [4.4.1 Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-1-colonial-administrators-cohen-and-arden-clarke.md)
  - [4.4.2 Local Leaders in the Independence Movement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-2-local-leaders-in-the-independence-movement.md)
  - [4.4.3 Pan-Africanism in Nationalism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-3-pan-africanism-in-nationalism.md)
- 4.5 Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
  - [4.5.1 Windrush & Immigration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-1-windrush-and-immigration.md)
  - [4.5.2 Commonwealth Immigrants Act](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-2-commonwealth-immigrants-act.md)
  - [4.5.3 Residual Impact of the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-3-residual-impact-of-the-empire.md)
- 4.6 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
  - [4.6.1 Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 1947](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-1-challenges-to-colonial-rule-post-1947.md)
  - [4.6.2 Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-2-kenya-and-the-mau-mau-uprising.md)
  - [4.6.3 Nigeria & Rhodesia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-3-nigeria-and-rhodesia.md)