Discover more about Italian explorers and their voyages along the coast of Africa.
Italian Explorers in Africa
In May of 1219, Ugolino and Vadino Vavaldi, two brothers from Genoa, ventured into the southern Atlantic Ocean, with the intention of circumnavigating Africa, to find the gold trading routes from where the caravans brought their gold to Europe, from what was known as Nubia.
Unfortunately at the mouth of the Gambia River, they were shipwrecked, and never heard of again. Also lost and presumed drowned, were two merchants of the Agilolfi family, and two Roman Catholic Franciscan priests.
In a letter dated the 12th December, 1455, an Italian in the employ of Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal, claimed he had found, in the area of the Gambia River, a descendant of one of the survivors of the shipwrecked Vivaldi galleys, after a period of 164 years had already passed. Antoniotto Usodimare, belonged to one of the most well-known Genoese families, and he himself was a director of the mint, and shareholder of the bank of San Giorgio, as well as being a member of the council of elders.
It must not be forgotten that in the three preceding centuries, the Italian merchant bankers and seamen, made it possible for the Portuguese and Spanish to undertake such adventurous undertakings.
Many seamen from Italy, amongst other foreigners, were in the employ of the Portuguese. The Genoese were also the inventors of the first then modern compass, and astronomers who were from Italy, also accompanied ships on the voyages of discovery to India, like the Venetian geographer and cosmographer, Livio Sanudo, author of twelve volumes entitled “Geografia”.
In spite of all these adventurous undertakings, not one of the Portugese or Italians set foot in South Africa, with the purpose of occupying the country. They would stop over for brief periods only, and then continue their journey.
The shipwrecked survivors, were the only ones to stay, until they had journeyed to safety. Many of these survivors were robbed on their way to safety, particular on the south east coast, and in extreme cases, even had their personal clothing removed, having to walk naked.
In 1460 the Venetian, Andrea Bianco, completed a detailed map of Africa for the king of Portugal, who also in London, drew up a noteworthy chart, one of scientific excellence, the first to have noted and illustrated the discoveries claimed by the Portuguese in 1448.
Amerigo Vespucci, who discovered America, and after whom all the Americas are named, snubbed Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the route to India, saying, “I do not consider that a voyage of discovery, since they were navigating within the sight of land, and along the southern African coast, which has been well documented by cosmographers.”
In Mozambique, Vasco da Gama, was further surprised, when he found Genoese compasses in the possession of the local native people. Once the Portuguese however took hold of the trade with India, they nearly bankrupted the Venetians, who were already involved in trade with the far east, and India long before the Portuguese arrived there.
A decline of Italian and Portuguese involvement in Africa, except for Mozambique, Angola, and Portuguese Guinea started in the 17th Century. The Italians had no ambitions in southern Africa, and were later to colonise countries of north and north-east Africa, up to the start of World War II, but were quickly overwhelmed, and forced out of the immediate area.
Italian Explorers Article courtesy of Cav. Andre E. Martinaglia
You might also be interested in the story of the establishment of the Olive Industry in SA by an Italian entrepreneur.
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Other European nations in South Africa
South African History Homeschool Unit Studies
Use these South African History file folder projects and lapbooks to learn about other people groups that contributed to the building of the nation of South Africa.
Click on the images below for more information about each one.
