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11
Gold Trade in Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe is one of the oldest kingdoms in Central Africa. This region is known for its gold trade on the coast of the Indian Ocean. They also were one of the most powerful kingdoms in 11-15 CE. They had large plantations near their farms and were heavily focused on their crops, while the gold they traded was traded with foreigners from the outside world. They traded with places from across the world, and they excelled from their trading and became a powerful kingdom. -
15
The End of Zimbabwe
The decline of Zimbabwe happened in 15 CE due to insufficient currency. Because they were short on funds, they declined so bad that it brought their whole economic system and country down. Another factor of the decline was drought. This drought was so bad it made the soil hard and rocky. As you know, Zimbabwe is an agricultural country, and the drought impacted them badly. This was the Fall of Great Zimbabwe. Nowadays, the ruins became a national monument and are guarded by Africa. -
1526
The Beginning of the Slave Trade in Central Africa
In 1526, the first cross-sea slave trade started. This was the first time someone has transported slaves to a foreign country. The first country to receive the first African slaves from the sea is the country of Brazil. After this has proven to be successful, many different countries wanted to buy slaves from Africa. Mainly the Spanish Americans and the Europeans brought the slaves a majority of the time. -
1550
The Influence of the Slave Trade
In the mid 1500’s, slave trade was very fluid in the kingdom of Kongo located in Central Africa. European forces took foot on the land and quickly saw many people living there. Because of the harsh treatment by Europe, the Africans were the first to see a non-African world. The Europeans took some Africans without their consent, and they shipped them away. This was the start of how slave trading became very fluent within the new world. -
The Greatest Economic Boom
Around the time of the 17th century, the African slave economy was at the highest point in its history, and the countries with the largest economies all used slaves to speed their workload. Because of the overwhelming demand and the new acts passed from countries across the Caribbean to the UK to ban the slave trades, slaves were usually exhausted from their work; however, this brought the greatest economic boom. The US didn't stop gathering slaves to do daily tasks until after the Civil War. -
The Beginning of Colonization
The colonization of Central Africa began around 1914. European countries like France, Belgium, Portugal and Germany all started to claim land in Central Africa. These nations believed that since the native people could not write down their history, then they had none. This rule justified the nations invading African land. Without better weapons to fight back, the tribes slowly started being pushed off their land. They sought control of the coast as it was important to slave traders as well. -
The Mining of Central Africa
These European nations were after valuable resources like gold, copper and wood. Although European countries came to Central Africa looking for resources, it was common knowledge that the region had wealth. Countries in Europe were occupied with controlling the newly discovered western world to start farming Africa's riches. Valuable resources like ivory, salt, and sugar, started to be exported into Europe in 1920, and the wealth gave more of a reason to invade more land to the European nations. -
The End of Europe in Africa
Due to the countless indignities by their mother countries, rebellion and a want for autonomy arose in Central Africa. Gabon and the Central African Republic became among the first to be free of France. The means by which they attained this freedom ranged from rebellion against Europe in the area to the eventual end of the AEF. The examples of achieving autonomy gave light to the other powers in the area, and it served as the catalyst for the rest of Central Africa becoming rid of Europe. -
Africa in the Cold War
In the early 1960s, the utilization of Central Africa's fertile land was first evident. European powers including England, Portugal, Germany, and Belgium were among the first to use Africa's land as a staging ground in the war. Because of the casualties of World War II, these nations sought African land in the context of the Cold War. Central Africa was mostly independent, but Europe sought their land for their own interests. -
The Final Expulsion of Europe in Africa
Because of the previous successions from Europe, the rest of Central Africa sought to be established as a new power, free of European influence. Angola and Zambia were the countries in the area that weren’t recognized as independent powers post 1960. Similar to its predecessors, violence and conversation became most useful in becoming free of Portugal and Britain. The autonomy of the rest of the countries in the region gave Central Africa a voice, and it was one to be heard and respected.
