European exploration of Arabia
- European exploration of Arabia
The Arabian Peninsula, much of which now comprises the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has always held a mysterious attraction for European explorers. Until modern times it was uncharted, inaccessible, dangerous and forbidden. Some areas remain dangerous and forbidden to the present day.
The first exploration of Arabia took place in the 16th Century when the Portuguese circumnavigated Arabia. [ [http://www.ismaili.net/mirrors/11ismaili/ismaili.html Arabia] ]
German explorers
*Carsten Niebuhr was part of an expedition in 1762 which explored the south east of Arabia. [ [http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/alpha/p.html Discovers Web:P] ]
British explorers
* William Gifford Palgrave was the first European to cross Arabia from west to east in 1862. [ [http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/alpha/p.html Discovers Web:P] ]
* Charles Montagu Doughty travelled through Arabia from 1876 to 1878 living with the Bedouin tribes [ [http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/alpha/d.html Discovers Web:D] ] and wrote a book "Travels in Arabia Deserta" in 1888.
* Lady Anne Blunt
* Captain William Shakespear made seven expeditions to the Arabian interior and was the first European to map the Nafud desert.
* Gertrude Bell
* T. E. Lawrence
* Gerard Leachman was the first European to be received by Ibn Sa'ud in his home city.
* Major R. E. Cheesman was the first man to map the Arabian coast from the Gulf of Salwa to Uqair.
* Major A. L. Holt led a number of motorized expeditions through the deserts of Arabia, the first time such long journeys had been undertaken with such a large number of vehicles.
* Harry St. John Philby was awarded the Royal Geographical Society Founders Gold Medal for his journey across Arabia.
* Bertram Thomas became the first European to cross the Rub' Al Khali from 1930 and 1931, a journey he described in "Arabia Felix" in 1932.
* Gerald de Gaury
* Sir George Rendel
* Sir Wilfred Thesiger
References
External links
* [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200401/mapping.arabia.htm Mapping Arabia]
* [http://www.ismaili.net/mirrors/11ismaili/ismaili.html Arabia - section on European explorers in Arabia]
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