Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, with a population of over 20 million. Its history dates back to AD 200-500 when seafarers arrived from Southeast Asia and Bantu settlers from Africa. Arab seafarers established trading posts in 700 BC, and the French colonized the island in 1883. Madagascar abolished slavery in 1817 and gained independence from France in 1960. Today it is a representative democratic republic and speaks Malagasy and French.
Madagascar, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa, is the fourth largest island in the world, about 40 percent larger than the US state of California. Because of its huge number of endemic plant and animal species, including all 93 species of lemur and six species of boabab, Madagascar is sometimes called “the eighth continent.” Its current population is over 20 million.
Madagascar’s history begins between AD 200 and 500, when seafarers in outrigger canoes arrived from Southeast Asia, probably originating from Borneo or southern Celebes. This is a huge distance, similar to that between Jerusalem and Beijing. During the same period, Mikea and Bantu settlers from Africa crossed the Mozambique Strait from Africa to Madagascar.
The written history of Madagascar begins around 700 BC, when Arab seafarers established trading posts on Madagascar’s northeastern coast. At that time, the island was still populated by the 10-foot-tall (3m) elephant bird and giant lemurs. The elephant bird’s appearance and huge eggs probably contributed to the rocs in the legends of Sinbad the Mariner, part of the Arabian Nights collection. These sailors brought elephant bird eggs to Baghdad to prove its existence.
Around the same time, the Arabs arrived and over the following centuries, the indigenous chiefs of the island began to rise to prominence, with some chiefs eventually coming to control large areas. From a European perspective, Madagascar’s history begins in the 1500s, when Portuguese sailor Diogo Dias sighted the island after his ship became separated from a fleet bound for India. He called the island San Lorenzo, a moniker that never stuck.
In 1666, the French intruded on Madagascar’s history when Francois Caron, the director general of the French East India Company, arrived on the island. He attempted to establish a colony there but failed, instead colonizing nearby Mauritus Islands and Reunion Island. The French would play a role in Madagascar’s history in later centuries.
In the 1790s, the native rulers of the island succeeded in establishing hegemony. In 1817, the island abolished slavery, which had been important to the economy, and received benefits from Great Britain in return, which was just as good, since the Royal Navy dominated the Indian Ocean. Over the next century, Britain exerted significant influence on Madagascar and converted much of the ruling classes to Christianity.
In 1883, the French invaded Madagascar, starting the First Franco-Hova War, which continued with a series of hostilities until 1896, when France overthrew the Merina kingdom and made Madagascar a French colony. The royal family, whose dynasty had ruled for 103 years, was exiled to Algeria. The French ruled Madagascar as a colony for 64 years. In 1947, a popular uprising left 90,000 dead, but the French resisted. It was not until 1956 that the French began to cede Madagascar to its native population and the island became an independent nation within the French Community in 1960. Today Madagascar is a representative democratic republic. The island speaks the languages of Malagasy and French.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
