South Africa:

Beginnings

South Africa:

Colonization to Independence

The Land

The Land

• Mild Mediterranean climate

• Rich in natural resources:�gold and diamonds

• Fertile land is limited

The People

The People

• Black South Africans�(around 80% of population)

• Khoisan – nomads, have been pushed out by others

• Bantu peoples--Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana (tribes)

• White South Africans�(around 10% of population)

• Dutch "Afrikaners" , also known as “Boers”

• British colonists

• Asians – mostly of Indian descent

Clash of Cultures

Clash of Cultures

• Dutch East India Company establish Cape Colony in 1652 on the southern tip of Africa after a shipwreck

• Afrikaner (Dutch Settler) �Culture:

• Slavery and strict racial segregation established

• Believed in white racial superiority

• Khoisan tried to resist, but disease and the settlers’ superior weapons led to defeat

• Settlers, including many protestants fleeing persecution in Holland soon followed

Arrival of British, 1806

Arrival of British, 1806

• British capture Cape Colony from the Dutch in 1806

• Great Trek, 1837

• Afrikaners take wagon trains north into the interior

• Zulu Wars 1830s-1880s

• Slavery abolished by 1830

• Shaka, Zulu chief, transforms tribe into unified nation

• Want to maintain independence and escape British influence

• Boers kill thousands of Zulu warriors at battle of Blood River in 1838

• Establish independent Transvaal and Orange Free State

• Afrikaners come into contact with Zulus as they move north

• Zulus eventually defeated by British as they gain more control in the north

Boer War 1899-1902, Independence 1910

Boer War 1899-1902, Independence 1910

• Discovery of gold and diamonds in Boer territory leads to influx of British settlers

• Afrikaners (Boers) refuse to grant rights to British in their territories, and attack British areas, causing war with British

• After initial defeats, and many casualties, the British finally establish control

• Defeated Afrikaners hate the British, while still feeling threatened by native tribes

• In response to Boer victories and guerilla tactics, British put civilians in concentration camps

• In 1910, Boer republics combine with British colonies to form independent Union of South Africa