Heinrich Barth (16 February 1821 - 25 November 1865) was a German explorer of Africa and scholar.

Barth is thought to be one of the greatest of the European explorers of Africa; as his scholarly preparation; ability to speak and write Arabic; learning African languages; and character meant that he carefully documented the details of the cultures he visited. He was among the first to comprehend the uses of oral history of peoples; and collected many. He established friendships with African rulers and scholars during his five years of travel (1850-1855). Pictures From History