Southern Africa

Iron Age

The Iron Age was characterized by the spread of Bantu-speaking peoples who brought iron-smelting technology, advanced agricultural practices, and centralized forms of governance.

These migrations introduced iron tools and weapons, which enabled more efficient farming and hunting. Settlements expanded across the region, particularly in fertile areas. Early trade networks began forming, connecting Southern Africa to the rest of the continent through the exchange of iron, salt, and other goods.

High Middle Ages

The High Middle Ages marked the emergence of significant political and economic centers, including the Kingdom of Mapungubwe (in present-day South Africa) and the early development of Great Zimbabwe. These states controlled lucrative trade networks, particularly in gold, which was highly sought after in the Indian Ocean trade.

Late Middle Ages

This period saw the rise of the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe, a powerful state that dominated trade routes and became a center of culture and commerce.

The decline of Great Zimbabwe gave rise to successor states like the Mutapa Kingdom, which maintained control over trade in the region.

New organized polities appeared in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

Early modern period

The early modern period was shaped by the arrival of European explorers and settlers. The Portuguese established trading posts along the coast, particularly in Mozambique, integrating the region into global trade networks. This contact facilitated the export of goods like gold and ivory but also introduced European political and military influence.

The Dutch East India Company established a settlement at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, marking the beginning of European colonization in Southern Africa.

French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Period (1789-1815)

During this period, the Cape Colony experienced significant upheaval. Initially controlled by the Dutch, it was seized by the British in 1795 and briefly returned to Dutch control before being reoccupied by the British in 1806.

Inland, indigenous societies such as the Zulu and Xhosa continued to develop, with increasing pressure from European settlers leading to conflicts over land and resources.

19th Century

The rise of the Zulu Kingdom under Shaka Zulu brought military and political centralization to the region, with the mfecane (a series of wars and migrations) reshaping the political landscape.

In this period the Boers (i.e. Dutch-speaking settlers of the Cape) started moving inland to escape British rule. Here they established many so-called Boer Republics.

European colonization intensified, with the British expanding their control over the Cape Colony and beyond. The discovery of diamonds in Kimberley (1867) and gold in the Witwatersrand (1886) fueled a scramble for resources, drawing European settlers and leading to conflicts such as the Anglo-Zulu War and the Anglo-Boer Wars.

The efforts of European Imperialism resulted in the creation of British Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe and Zambia), the British occupation of Malawi and Botswana, and the German colonization of Namibia.

From 1900 to the End of World War II

The Second Boer War (1899-1902) resulted in British dominance and the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910.

Indigenous populations faced increasing marginalization under colonial rule, with discriminatory policies limiting land ownership and political rights.

World War I resulted in the South African occupation of Namibia.

Following World War I, the Union of South Africa was a signatory of the Treaty of Versailles and became one of the founding members of the League of Nations.

Cold War Period

The Cold War era was marked by struggles for independence and the fight against apartheid.

Countries like Zambia, Botswana, and Mozambique gained independence during the 1960s and 1970s, while Angola and Namibia were embroiled in protracted liberation struggles.

South Africa became a global focal point due to its apartheid regime, which institutionalized racial segregation and oppression. In an effort to further segregate the Black population, South Africa established Black Homelands (so called "Bantustans").

The colony of Southern Rhodesia declared independency in 1965, imposing white minority rule in a similar fashion to South Africa. The minority rule ended in 1979 when the country became Zimbabwe.

Post-Cold War Period (1990-2010)

South Africa dismantled apartheid in the early 1990s, leading to the election of Nelson Mandela as president in 1994. This transition marked a new era of democracy and reconciliation.

South West Africa became independent as Namibia in 1990. The end of Apartheid also resulted in the disestablishment of the Bantustans.

2010s and 2020s

In the 2010s and 2020s, Southern Africa faced mixed fortunes. South Africa continued to struggle with economic inequality, political corruption, and energy crises, while remaining a regional leader. Countries like Botswana and Namibia experienced relative political stability and economic growth.