There is a considerable amount of historic evidence to show that those that lived in the Nigerian area have had active relations with Europeans and others from abroad from earliest times. These contacts have been in the aspect of political, economic and social areas.
In Nigerian area, significant increase in external relationships were witnessed during the 19th Century. This was made possible by the European's movement from the costal area to the hinterland.
Before this period, the European were already doing business with people in the coastal areas of the territories that later became Nigeria.
The earliest Europeans to carry out Exploration activities in the Nigerian area were the Portuguese. They made impacts in the coastal areas. It was only in Benin and Warri that they were able to create somethings in the interior of the Nigerian area. The Portuguese were not able to sustain their pressure and presence. They pulled out of these areas.
The subsequent systematic European Explorations were set up by the British. The British were to later carry out Exploration activities that covered parts of West Africa. There were Explorations led by Mungo Park, Hugh Clapperton, Hendrich Barth, Lander Brothers and others.
These Expeditions ended up opening the Nigerian area to a very high British participation. This increased participation contributed to imperial activities of the British in the region.
Under this course,we discussed the various European Explorations activities in the Nigerian area.