On the Strange Journey of Ṣägga Krǝstos and His Impact on the Renaissance World
From the Time to Eat the Dogs Podcast with Michael Robinson
Time to Eat the Dogs is a podcast about science, history, and exploration. Each week, Michael Robinson interviews scientists, journalists, and adventurers about life at the extreme.
In 1632, an Ethiopian man appeared in Cairo claiming to be an Ethiopian prince. Ṣägga Krǝstos, also known as Zaga Christ, mesmerized the kings and bishops of Europe, even though they never knew exactly who he was. On this episode, Matteo Salvadore talks about the strange journey of Ṣägga Krǝstos and his impact on the Renaissance world.
From the episode:
Matteo Salvadore: Ṣägga Krǝstos thrived in Renaissance Europe, despite a growing racist discourse that characterized a European understanding of Africa.
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Matteo Salvadore is an Associate Professor of History at the American University of Sharjah. He’s the author of The African Prester John and the Birth of Ethiopian-European Relations, 1402–1555.
