Leo Africanus books in order
An Andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his 1526 book Cosmographia et geographia de Affrica, later published by Giovanni Battista Ramusio as Descrittione dell'Africa in 1550, centered on the geography of the Maghreb and Nile Valley
- Lived
- 1494–1600
- Books
- 1
Leo Africanus published 1 non-fiction book, beginning with A Geographical Historie of Africa, Written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, Borne in Granada, and Brought Vp in Barbarie. Wherein He Hath at Large Described, Not Onely the Qualities, Situations, and True Distances of the Regions, Cities, Townes, Mountaines, Riuers, and Other Places Throughout All the North and Principall Partes of Africa; but Also the Descents and Families of Their Kings ... Gathered Partly Out of His Owne Diligent Obseruations, and Partly Out of the Ancient Records and Chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before Which, Out of the Best Ancient and Moderne Writers, Is Prefixed a Generall Description of Africa, and Also a Particular Treatise of All the Maine Lands and Isles Vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and Collected by Iohn Pory, Lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge (1556).
Updated September 2026
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A Geographical Historie of Africa, Written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, Borne in Granada, and Brought Vp in Barbarie. Wherein He Hath at Large Described, Not Onely the Qualities, Situations, and True Distances of the Regions, Cities, Townes, Mountaines, Riuers, and Other Places Throughout All the North and Principall Partes of Africa; but Also the Descents and Families of Their Kings ... Gathered Partly Out of His Owne Diligent Obseruations, and Partly Out of the Ancient Records and Chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before Which, Out of the Best Ancient and Moderne Writers, Is Prefixed a Generall Description of Africa, and Also a Particular Treatise of All the Maine Lands and Isles Vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and Collected by Iohn Pory, Lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge
Leo Africanus's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
A Geographical Historie of Africa, Written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, Borne in Granada, and Brought Vp in Barbarie. Wherein He Hath at Large Described, Not Onely the Qualities, Situations, and True Distances of the Regions, Cities, Townes, Mountaines, Riuers, and Other Places Throughout All the North and Principall Partes of Africa; but Also the Descents and Families of Their Kings ... Gathered Partly Out of His Owne Diligent Obseruations, and Partly Out of the Ancient Records and Chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before Which, Out of the Best Ancient and Moderne Writers, Is Prefixed a Generall Description of Africa, and Also a Particular Treatise of All the Maine Lands and Isles Vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and Collected by Iohn Pory, Lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge (1556)
About Leo Africanus
Johannes Leo Africanus was an Andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his 1526 book Cosmographia et geographia de Affrica, later published by Giovanni Battista Ramusio as Descrittione dell'Africa in 1550, centered on the geography of the Maghreb and Nile Valley. The book was regarded among his scholarly peers in Europe as the most authoritative treatise on the subject until the modern exploration of Africa. For this work, Leo became a household name among European geographers. He converted from Islam to Christianity and changed his name to Johannes Leo de Medicis. Leo possibly returned to North Africa in 1528.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Leo Africanus FAQ
- How many books has Leo Africanus written?
- Leo Africanus published 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Leo Africanus's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Geographical Historie of Africa, Written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, Borne in Granada, and Brought Vp in Barbarie. Wherein He Hath at Large Described, Not Onely the Qualities, Situations, and True Distances of the Regions, Cities, Townes, Mountaines, Riuers, and Other Places Throughout All the North and Principall Partes of Africa; but Also the Descents and Families of Their Kings ... Gathered Partly Out of His Owne Diligent Obseruations, and Partly Out of the Ancient Records and Chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before Which, Out of the Best Ancient and Moderne Writers, Is Prefixed a Generall Description of Africa, and Also a Particular Treatise of All the Maine Lands and Isles Vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and Collected by Iohn Pory, Lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge.
- What is Leo Africanus's last book?
- A Geographical Historie of Africa, Written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, Borne in Granada, and Brought Vp in Barbarie. Wherein He Hath at Large Described, Not Onely the Qualities, Situations, and True Distances of the Regions, Cities, Townes, Mountaines, Riuers, and Other Places Throughout All the North and Principall Partes of Africa; but Also the Descents and Families of Their Kings ... Gathered Partly Out of His Owne Diligent Obseruations, and Partly Out of the Ancient Records and Chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before Which, Out of the Best Ancient and Moderne Writers, Is Prefixed a Generall Description of Africa, and Also a Particular Treatise of All the Maine Lands and Isles Vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and Collected by Iohn Pory, Lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge (1556).
- What is Leo Africanus's most famous book?
- A Geographical Historie of Africa, Written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, Borne in Granada, and Brought Vp in Barbarie. Wherein He Hath at Large Described, Not Onely the Qualities, Situations, and True Distances of the Regions, Cities, Townes, Mountaines, Riuers, and Other Places Throughout All the North and Principall Partes of Africa; but Also the Descents and Families of Their Kings ... Gathered Partly Out of His Owne Diligent Obseruations, and Partly Out of the Ancient Records and Chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before Which, Out of the Best Ancient and Moderne Writers, Is Prefixed a Generall Description of Africa, and Also a Particular Treatise of All the Maine Lands and Isles Vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and Collected by Iohn Pory, Lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge (1556) is Leo Africanus's most widely read book.
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.