|
700AD |
Arabian and Persians trade
with ivory, rhino horn, gold, shells and slaves |
|
1000 AD |
Shona people began their rule
and built a city called Zimbabwe |
|
1400s |
Karanga branch of the Shona
established the Mwanamutapa Empire |
|
1500's |
Rowzi branch rebelled and
formed the Changamire Empire
Christianity was introduced by the Portuguese
explorers
|
|
1830s |
Nguni people from the south
defeated the empire
European slave traders establish coastal ports for
the increasing traffic in slaves destined for the
Americas
|
|
1888 |
Lobengula, the ruler, signed
an agreement that granted mineral rights to the
British South African Company
|
|
1893 |
The British South African
Company occupied the region and called the territory
Rhodesia |
|
1897 |
Great Britain recognized
southern and northern Rhodesia as separate
territories |
|
1923 |
Southern Rhodesia became a
self-governing British Colony |
|
1953 |
Great Britain set up the
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which included
the territories of Southern and Northern Rhodesia
|
|
1963 |
The Federation of Rhodesia and
Nyasaland was dissolved |
|
1964 |
The Federation of Rhodesia and
Nyasaland was dissolved
Northern Rhodesia became Zambia
Southern Rhodesia became known as Rhodesia
|
|
1965 |
11 November: Prime Minister,
Ian Smith, declared Rhodesia independent. Great
Britain declared this action illegal and banned
trade with Rhodesia
|
|
1966 |
The United Nations imposed
sanctions on Rhodesia |
|
1969 |
A new constitution was
introduced to prevent black Africans from ever
gaining control of the government
|
|
1970 |
2 March: Rhodesia declares
itself a republic
1970-1974 Civil War between government troops and
black guerrillas
|
|
1977 |
1977-1979 Prime Minister Smith
began to make plans to establish a new government
with a majority of black leaders
|
|
1979 |
April: Election resulted in a
majority of black leaders
April: Abel T. Muzorewa became the first black Prime
Minister
31 May: Zimbabwe proclaimed independence
1 June: The nation of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia,
was formed
|
|
1980 |
18 April: Great Britain
recognized the country's independence and Rhodesia's
name was officially changed to Zimbabwe
|
|
2000 |
February: In a referendum
Zimbabwe voters rejected a new constitution which
included provisions that called for redistribution
of white-owned farmland to blacks
|
