A French Traveler in Southern Africa:
François Levaillant in the Cape of Good Hope, 1780-1790
Keywords:
Travel Narratives, African History, Global History, South Africa, François Levaillant (1753-1824)Abstract
The article analyzes François Levaillant’s travel narratives from the Cape of Good Hope in the 1780s and 1790s, highlighting the entanglement of scientific interest and sensibilities in his experiences. The article focuses specifically on Voyage de M. Le Vaillant dans l’Intérieur de l’Afrique (1790), using theoretical and methodological perspectives from Global History that consider global connections and colonial contexts. Thus, the article discusses the circulation of merchants, travelers, and naturalists in Southern Africa, with an emphasis on Levaillant’s self-representation strategies and the novel sensibilities associated with journeys to distant territories.
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