"Homo Africanus”: l’Africa nel VII libro della Naturalis Historia

This article deals with the view of Africa shared, and propagated, by Pliny in his Naturalis Historia. In particular, the articles focus on the “Homo Africanus”, i.e. the view and interpretation of African ethnicities provided by Pliny, view and interpretation that shaped to a large extent most of the European readings as well as imagination as related to Africa well until the end of the 18th century. In the 7th book of his encyclopedia Pliny deals with anthropology, providing an extended presentation of the human types and “races” as they were known at his own time. African ethnic groups make a large portion of the review of humanity as displayed by Pliny. Occasionally Pliny indulges in phantasies, more often gives a precise sketch of the ethnicities present in the Roman slice of the Continent, which did not go under the Sahara borders. Pliny’s anthropology is rich in detail and very keen about marvels and curiosities and fueled for a long time pre-colonial and colonial imagination, providing also an ideal tool to better face/ conquer those populations.