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Jan 1, 1400
First Recorded Contact with Europeans
The Portugese discovered trade routes, as well as human and natural resources. Mani Kongo asks the king of Portugal to stop enslaving his people because he was destroying their society. -
Jan 1, 1482
Portugese located the Congo River
The Portugese discover the Congo River. This led to a lot of explanation. -
Jan 1, 1500
Height of Kongo Empire
The Kongo Empire was thriving. They had established trading networks. They were doing well when it came to food and materials. -
Decline of the Kongo Empire
There were so many people sold into slavery that the empire fell apart. Between 1500-1800 -
Conrad Born
Conrad was born of Polish aristrocatic parents. They were in the Russian occupied Ukraine. -
Conrad's parents exiled
His father was arrested for patrioitic conspiracy in 1861. The following year they were exiled to Siberia. -
Conrad First Wished to go to Africa
Conrad pointed his finger on a map of Africa and said, "When I grow up I shall go there." This was when he first felt he should go. -
Conrad is taken in by uncle
After both of his parent's deaths, he is taken in by Tadeusz Bobrowski. This is his maternal grandfather. -
Leaves Poland
He leaves Poland so he doesn't alert the Russians. He becomes a "trainee seamen with the French Merchant Marine." -
Conrad gets caught up
Conrad was involved in a plot that involved smuggling arms to Spanish rebels. The arms were from Marseilles. -
Conrad attempts suicide
Conrad attempts to kill himself. He shot himself in the chest but survived. -
King Leopold of Belgium Rule Begins
He works on many different projects to increase his as well as his friend's wealth. 10-15 million Congolese die because of the king. -
Conference of Berlin
France is given 670,000 square kilometers on the north bank of the Congo. Portugal is given 910,000 square kilometers to the south. -
Opportunity to go to the Congo
After much practice sailing, he was given the opportunity to go to the Congo. He jumped at it immediately. -
First Trip to the Congo
Conrad committed to serve three years as an officer on river steamboats. He went by the name of "Harou." -
Conrad arrives in Matadi
Conrad arrived in Matadi. He started his famous diary there. It is very brief though. -
Chiefs required to send men for rubber tax
Because of the rising price of rubber, chiefs are forced to supply men to collect a "rubber-tax." Their wives and children were held hostage until the men met their quota. -
Sickness places him in the hospital
Conrad becomes sick from being in the Congo. He spens the rest of his life battling illness. -
French Control Begins
The French take control of the Congo. It began in 1897. -
Conrad dies
Conrad dies due to a heart attack. He had just barely declined an offer for knighthood. -
Congo Independence
The Congo elects its first leader Patrice Emery Lumumba. He was assassinated January 17, 1961. -
Mobtu Sese Sekou's Rule Begin
He gains control after the US and Belgium staged a coup. He had 4 billion dollars hidden in Swiss bank accounts that could have ended the nations debt. -
The Congo War Begins
Rwanda tries to remove Kabila from power and causes war to begin. Seven other countries begin. It was Africa's First World war. It ended in 2002. -
Laurent Desire Kabila's Rule Begins
Laurent Desire takes control from Mobutu. Rwanda and Uganda helped. -
Joseph Kabila's Rule Begins
Laurent Kabila is assassinated and they replaced with Joseph, his son. He still rules today.
