Civilising missions, natural history and British industry: Livingstone in the Zambezi

Abstract

High hopes for opening new markets, locating natural resources and the 'advance of civilisation' were built into the plans for Victorian expeditions to Africa. When an expedition failed to deliver on these goals, criticisms of individual explorers and the entire 'civilising mission' project could result. The Zambesi Expedition, led by David Livingstone, received just such criticism when politics and geography obstructed the realisation of its aims. The needs of a growing industrial sector contributed to the organisation of the Expedition but also set the criteria by which its success or failure would be judged.