Madagascar is most famous for its Wildlife and beautiful scenery. But as you will see the island has a fascinating history too.
Geologists( experts on rocks) believe Madagascar started drifting away from the African continent 0000 years ago
150 000 years ago, small mammals drifted on wood to the island. These were the forefathers of the lemurs
Humans started to arrive from Malaysia and Indonesia about 2300 years ago. They traveled all the way from present day Malaysia and Indonesia in outrigger canoes. Some of these first settlers may have been the forefathers to the mysterious Vazimba people.
Bantu people from east Africa started to arrive about 600-700 years A.D.
Later people started entering from, India and Arabia. The first alphabet used on the island was Arabic.
1100 years ago, a new wave of people from the far east started migrating to Madagascar.
The Wazimba who have dominated the interior are defeated by A tribe from the coast. This tribe will soon be known as the Merina.
In the 17th century European pirates started using Madagascar as a base for their attacks on merchant ships sailing between Asia and Europe. Ratsimilaho (c.1694 – 1750) was a ruler of the Betismisaraka tribe. He is said to be the son of the English Pirate Thomas White and a Malagasy queen, Antavaratra Rahena.
Andrianampoinimerina king 1787 - 1810becomes king of The Merina people. He ends 77 years of civil war. The king Initiates the conquest of Madagascar.
Radama1 the great. He unites almost all of Madagascar and invites Christian Missionaries to Madagascar to open schools.
Ranavalona 1. After Radama 1dies his queen Ranavalona rules Madagascar for 35 years. The quen wants to isolate Madagascar and persecutes the Christians. Many people are killed by being dumped of a cliff in Antananarivo. She also uses a poisonous nut to execute people. During her reign Madagascar’s population drops from 5million to 2.5 million
In 1895 the French occupy Madagascar and turns it into a colony. The last queen, leaves Madagascar for Algeria. The French turn down an offer from Queen Victoria who invites her to live in London.
1896 Slavery is abolished
In 1947 the Malagasy revolt against the French. Thousands of Malagasy people are killed.
1960 Madagascar becomes an independent nation.
If you want to impress somebody, what about learning the names of these Merina kings and the years of their reign?
Andriantsitakatrandriana (1630-1650)
Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (1650-1670)
Andrianjaka Razakatsitakatrandriana (1670-1675)
Andriantsimitoviaminiandriana Andriandrazaka (1710-1730)
Andrianjafinandriamanitra (1770-1787)
Andrianampoinimerinatompokoindrindra (1787- 1810) also known as Andrianampoinimerina ( but I guess you find that much to easy)
The gate in to the Rova. The place area in ... capital from. ... The walls were made of a mixture of dirt and egg whites. More than 14000 000 egg whites were needed. Only a Great king can build anything like that.
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