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Jan 1, 1487
European reached southern Africa
The Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European known to have reached southern Africa -
The Cape of Good Hope was established
The Cape of Good Hope was established, today known as Cape Town. -
Cape Town, a British colony
Cape Town became a British colony in 1806 -
"Great trek"
Anglicization of government and the freeing of slaves in 1833 drove about 12,000 Afrikaners to make the “great trek” north and east into African tribal territory, where they established the republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State -
The discovery of diamonds
The discovery of diamonds in 1867 -
First Boer War
The Boer Republics successfully resisted British encroachments during the First Boer War (1880–1881) using guerrilla warfare tactics, which were well suited to local conditions. -
Discovery of gold
Discovery of gold -
Second Boer War
The British returned with greater numbers, more experience, and new strategy in the Second Boer War (1899–1902) but suffered heavy casualties through attrition, but were ultimately successful. -
Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment
The leader of ANC, Nelson Mandela, was sentenced to life imprisonment. -
First universal election
South Africa held its first universal elections in 1994, which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority. It has been in power ever since.
