| Περίληψη: |
The article examines Daniel Defoe’s 1720 adventure-travel novel *The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies, of the Famous Captain Singleton*, focusing on its depiction of a fictional overland journey across Africa’s interior from Mozambique to the Gold Coast. At a time when European knowledge of Africa’s interior was limited and largely speculative, Defoe used this narrative to promote the commercial potential of Africa, blending fact and fiction to influence eighteenth-century views on trade and exploration. The article contextualizes Defoe’s work within contemporary cartographic traditions, travel literature, and trade interests, noting that despite Defoe never visiting Africa, his detailed descriptions gained credibility and aligned with Enlightenment-era calls for expanding English trade and colonization. Ultimately, Defoe’s *Captain Singleton* served as a purposeful fictional vehicle advocating for the economic exploitation and settlement of Africa’s interior. [Extracted from the article] |