Historical: What names did Europeans have for Africa?

[twilight2000]

In the 1200 and 1300's if I'm lucky - but I'll take any historical names for Africa I can get :>. Thanks

Comments

[poolnaiad]

Ah, wait, I just realised something.

Who do you acually mean when you say 'European'? People living in what today is Spain, Greece, Sweden or the UK would have had different ideas about 'Africa'. A lot of the above answers seem to be from a Brit/UK pov.

[orange_fell]

But educated Christians from all of those places except Greece would have communicated with each other in Latin, in which the name would still be "Africa." We are just assuming the Christian and non-Byzantine parts, true, but the OP hasn't gotten any more specific.

[poolnaiad]

You are right; I did get sidetracked from the name. I started thinking about the 'idea' or 'image' of Africa people would have had... so interesting, this com...

[twilight2000]

and actually, I *am* thinking about "idea" or "image" - let me adust the OP :>

[twilight2000]

Really good question - I'm working from France/Italy - and should have mentioned that ;>