|
|
3000BC - 1000BC: Evidence of
migration of people from Somalia and Ethiopia
The Zulus, who belong to the Nguni-speaking peoples,
constitute the majority of the population. Other
tribes include the Khoi, San, and Xhosa
|
|
400 AD |
Migration of the Bantu peoples
into South Africa |
|
700 |
South African Trade with the
Arabs and Phoenicians in ivory, rhino horn, gold,
shells and slaves |
|
1480 |
Portuguese navigator
Bartholomeu Dias first European to travel round the
southern tip of Africa
|
|
1497 |
July 8 - Vasco da Gama set out
on expedition to India via Africa stopping at
Mombasa, Mozambique, Malindi and Kenya trading
centres
|
|
1652 |
Jan van Riebeeck, working for
the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape Colony
at Table Bay and Dutch settlement of South Africa
starts
|
|
1816 |
1816 - 1826 Shaka Zulu founds
the Zulu empire |
|
1835 |
1835 - 1840: The Boers leave
Cape Colony and found the Orange Free State and the
Transvaal |
|
1858 |
Boers proclaim the Transvaal a
republic |
|
1867 |
Diamonds are discovered at
Kimberley |
|
1877 |
The British and the Boers
defeat the Zulus in the Zulu War |
|
1880 |
1880-81: The Boer War - The
Boers rebel against the British |
|
1880s |
The South African gold rush |
|
1910 |
Formation of Union of South
Africa by former British colonies of the Cape and
Natal, and the Boer republics of Transvaal, and
Orange Free State
|
|
1913 |
Land Act: Prevented
Blacks from purchasing land |
|
1948 |
Policy of apartheid adopted by
the National Party (NP) |
|
1950 |
Group Areas Act: To segregate
black and white people
The African National Congress (ANC) led by Nelson
Mandela initiates civil disobedience
|
|
1961 |
South Africa declared a
republic |
|
1964 |
Nelson Mandela sentenced to
life imprisonment |
|
|
1970's- 1980's - Civil unrest,
sanctions imposed on South Africa, forced
resettlement process and Township revolts
|
|
1990 |
Nelson Mandela at last
released from prison |
|
1991 |
De Klerk repeals remaining
apartheid laws and international sanctions are
lifted |