At the beginning of the 18th century Petrovsky reforms captured all spheres of social and economic life of Russia including foreign trade. The emperor aspired to expansion of the foreign trade communications not only with the adjacent countries but also with the remote corners of the planet. Peter the Great was far-sighted, erudite and purposeful person and he was convinced that strengthening of commercial relations of the Russian Empire with the different states of the world will promote its economic, political and military power. The foreign trade interests of the monarch stretched up to Latin and North America and the remote corners of Asia and Africa. Certainly not all the projects of the emperor could come true. Nevertheless in the fi rst quarter of the 18th century the geography of the foreign trade communications of Russia considerably extended. The present article is devoted to development of the commercial relations of the Russian Empire with Africa in 18th - the fi rst half of the 19th century.