Antonio Malfante (?–1450) was a
Genoese trader known for traveling to Africa on behalf of the Centurione Bank in 1447.
In a letter written in
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
from the Saharan oasis of
Tuwat to a merchant in Genoa, Malfante reported on what he learned from an informant about the
trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade requires travel across the Sahara between sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the early 17th century.
The Sahara once had a very d ...
. He listed several 'states', including one called 'Geni' and describes the
Niger River
The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through ...
: "Through these lands flows a very large river, which at certain times of the year inundates all these lands. This river passes by the gates of Thambet (
Timbuktu
Timbuktu ( ; french: Tombouctou;
Koyra Chiini: ); tmh, label=Tuareg, script=Tfng, ⵜⵏⴱⴾⵜ, Tin Buqt a city in Mali, situated north of the Niger River. The town is the capital of the Tombouctou Region, one of the eight administrativ ...
).... There are many boats on it, by which they carry on trade".
Antonio Malfante, ''Lettera Di Un Mercante Genovese'' (2008 reprint), Stanford University Library listing.
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malfante, Antonio
1450 deaths
15th-century Genoese people
15th-century Italian writers
15th-century explorers of Africa
15th-century Italian businesspeople
Year of birth uncertain
Italian explorers
Italian letter writers
Medieval letter writers