2006-08-06 01:10:50 · 4 answers · asked by Earthen vessel 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Meaning of Place Name: Africa
Africa: Origin traced to the Phenician "afer" (plural "afri"), "a black man," whence Latin, Africa, and Greek, Aphrike.
2006-08-06 01:21:01 · answer #1 · answered by Nanou (",) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The origin of the word is still a little uncertain, but it is credible to see a connection from Latin (Africa = sunny) and Greek (Aphrike = not cold). The Romans were the first to use the name. For them it covered Tunisia and the most northern parts of Algeria and Libya. They could also have been inspired to the name from some of the first people they met on the continenent: The Afri, which were a berber tribe in the Carthage area. Egypt was already known territory, but further South was unknown land. Around 2,000 years ago "Aethiopia" seems to have been used to describe the land found south of Sahara, but Europeans later used "Africa" to describe the entire continent.
The story is much more complex than that: a more fulfilling explanation can be found in the excellent book "Wonders of the African World" by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
2006-08-06 01:21:54 · answer #2 · answered by confused 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what is the origin of the name sue?
2006-08-06 01:28:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know?
2006-08-06 01:18:39 · answer #4 · answered by Arnold 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋