David Livingstone (1813-1873)

4.8

Many men in the English-speaking world took an active part in the exploration of new lands. These travelers of the past are known to everybody now because we can see their names on the maps when we learn geography. David Livingstone was one of the pioneers of exploration in Africa.

He was born in Scotland. His father was not rich and so after a year or two in the village school young David was sent to a factory. There he began work at six o’clock in the morning and finished at eight in the evening.

David had little money, but he bought some school-books and every night he studied different subjects.

When he was nineteen, he began to study at a university. He was learning to be a doctor.

In 1840 Livingstone went to Africa. Soon he began journeys into new lands. During these journeys he decided that the work of a doctor was very important in Africa.

Livingstone made three great expeditions. He crossed Africa from the west to the east. He explored rivers, lakes and large areas of land. In his expeditions Livingstone was helped by African people, who were very friendly.

Livingstone prepared and carried out his journeys very carefully. He described everything he saw around him and he put a lot of places on the map. His books about African journeys are full of important information.

In Livingstone’s time African people were taken from their homes and families and sent to America. There they were sold and made slaves. The great explorer was against the slave trade and he fought against it.