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Feb 3, 1488
Bartolomeu Dias
(1488) Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was the first European mariner to round the southern tip of Africa, opening a way for a sea route from Europe to Asia. On his way back he named the southern tip of Africa “Cabo Tormentoso” which means “Cape of Storms”. Then later on King Jaoa renamed it to “Cape of Good Hope” to encourage future explorers. Dias’ ships rounded the Cape of Good Hope and then sailed around Cabo das Agulhas, to enter the waters of the Indian Ocean. -
Jan 8, 1500
Artifacts
In Swaziland artifacts were founded by Bantu tribes in South Africa. They found artifacts that were up to 200,000 years old. Not only did they find artifacts, they also found ancient rock paintings. These ancient paintings were approximately from 25,000 BC. These items were found in the 15th and 16th Centuries. -
Cape Town
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Dutch Planted the First Grape Vines
The Dutch settlers planted the first vines for grapes. The vines were planted as a part of marsden’s efforts to establish a settlement for the church missionary society at Kerikeri. He recorded planting in the journal on his second visit to South Africa. He planted about 100 grape vines which came from port jackson. The vines were planted to define the vast importance in that part of the globe. They promised to be very favourable to the vine, and as far as the nature and soil are concerned. -
Graaff Reinet
Graaff-Reinet, the major town of the eastern Karoo, was founded. This is the oldest settlement in South Africa. The Graaff Reinet is set in a curl in the sunday’s river. The Graaff Reinet was founded in 1786. It is a stylish town with at least 200 buildings. It based on tourism, game farming and traditional stock like merino sheep and white gold angora goats which give Mohair. The Graaff-Reinet is best viewed from the heights of Camdeboo National Park. -
Discovered Gold Mine
The witwatersrand gold mine is where most (98%) of the gold in Africa is found. The name Witwatersrand is Afrikaans Dutch. The gold mines in this area are situated around an ancient sea (over 2700 million years old) where rivers deposited their sediments in the form of sand and gravel which became the conglomerate containing the gold. The witwatersrand basin is around 350 km long and 200 km wide. The mines in this area are possibly the deepest mines in the world. -
British Took Control of Cape Town
Main goal of taking over cape town was to protect eastern trade routes. Later on before they did they figured what could benefit them if they did take it over. The British settled into South Africa in 1815 and then took over Cape Town. After the Napoleonic wars, Britain experienced a serious unemployment problem. Therefore, encouraged by the British government to immigrate to the Cape colony. -
Boer War (1899 - 1902)
The Dutch originally settled in Cape Town. The British later took over complete control from the Dutch. About 50 years later the Dutch decided to fight for South Africa. They went into war for South Africa which ended 3 years later. The British won the war and the Dutch lost any power they had in South Africa. -
Swaziland became a British Colony
Swaziland became a British Colony in 1906. Swaziland’s own monarch remained the head of the territory during this time. Even though the monarch remained, there was a British resident commissioner who made the decisions. In 1964, the monarch led the It was a British Colony all the way up to 1968. -
The Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa parliament enacts the Status of the Union Act, which declares the country to be a sovereign independent state. Britain's passing of the Statute of Westminster in 1931 removed the last vestiges of British legal authority over South Africa. South Africa then became free from the British. The British have been in South Africa ever since 1815. This was when they first settled here.
