The scientific and political impact of Portugal's first modern geographical mission to Africa, 1875–1882

Activity: Talk or presentationOral presentation

Description

In my paper I aim to discuss the scientific and political impact of the first modern geographical mission organised by Portugal to Africa, in the context of the competition for the scientific study of the continent. From the mid-19th century onwards, several British missions sought to study the geography of the African hinterland, which was then largely unknown by Europeans. In the 1870s, competing colonialist intentions alarmed a segment of the Portuguese elite who feared the breakdown of the country’s sovereignty over territories in Southern Africa that they recognised as part of the Portuguese sphere of influence for centuries. Two organisations were then set up with the more immediate aim of preparing a Portuguese geographical mission to Africa: the Permanent and Central Geographical Commission and the Lisbon Geographical Society. After much discussion and some conflicts, a mission led by Hermenegildo Brito Capelo (1841–1917) and Serpa Pinto (1846–1900) finally set off in July 1877. Although this mission remains a well-known episode in Portuguese historiography, its concrete scientific and political achievements are still unclear. In this communication I will problematise the discussions that led to the organisation of the mission, analyse the geographical knowledge gathered in Africa, and evaluate its scientific and political reception at a national and international level.
Period12 Jul 2024
Event titleAssociation for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies 2024 Annual Conference: From Lisbon to the World
Event typeConference
Conference number53
LocationLisbon, PortugalShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

Keywords

  • Colonial History
  • History of Science
  • Scramble for Africa
  • colonial science
  • geographical explorations
  • geographical societies
  • Portuguese Empire