Leo Africanus/al-Hasan Muhammad al-Wazzan al-Fasi | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of a Humanist, c. 1520. The identity of the sitter is unknown but suggested possibly to be Leo Africanus [1] | |
| Born | al-Hasan Muhammad al-Wazzan c. 1494 |
| Died | c. 1554 (aged c. 60) |
| Occupation(s) | Diplomat, geographer, traveler and scientist |
| Notable work | Description of Africa |
Johannes Leo Africanus (born al-Hasan Muhammad al-Wazzan al-Fasi, Arabic: الحسن محمد الوزان الفاسي; c. 1494 – c. 1554) was an Andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his 1526 book Cosmographia et geographia de Affrica, later published by Giovanni Battista Ramusio as Descrittione dell'Africa (Description of Africa) in 1550, centered on the geography of the Maghreb and Nile Valley.[2] The book was regarded among his scholarly peers in Europe as the most authoritative treatise on the subject until the modern exploration of Africa.[3] For this work, Leo became a household name among European geographers. He converted from Islam to Christianity and changed his name to Johannes Leo de Medicis (يوحنا الأسد).[4] Leo possibly returned to North Africa in 1528, reverting to Islam.[3]
- ^ Rauchenberger 1999, pp. 78–79.
- ^ "Leo Africanus". Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_com_35836. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ a b Masonen 2001.
- ^ "Leo Africanus". Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_com_35836. Retrieved 2022-10-03.