What was the purpose of David Livingstone’s Zambezi expedition?

David Livingstone’s Zambezi expedition (1858–1864) was commissioned by the British government with the primary goal of exploring eastern and central Africa to promote commerce and civilization, with the ultimate aim of bringing about the extinction of the slave trade.1

Specifically, the expedition was tasked with testing the navigability of the lower Zambezi River to determine if it could serve as a viable route for trade into the African interior. Livingstone believed that by establishing legitimate commerce, he could provide an economic alternative to the slave trade, thereby undermining it.123

While the expedition faced significant challenges—including the inability to fully navigate the Zambezi by ship and internal conflicts among the party—it succeeded in amassing a valuable body of scientific knowledge and exploring regions such as the Shire River and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). These efforts laid the groundwork for future British influence in the region, eventually contributing to the creation of the British Central Africa Protectorate.12