History of ZimbabweHistory of

Zimbabwe

Formerly Known As: Rhodesia

By: Shannon M.

Formerly Known As: Rhodesia

By: Shannon M.

8000 BC: Ancestors of the Khoisan people establish the

first organized society in Zimbabwe

8000 BC: Ancestors of the Khoisan people establish the

first organized society in Zimbabwe

• They were peaceful hunter-gatherers and pottery makers

• Lived in rock shelters and caves• Archeologists have found some of these caves

decorated with paintings

• They were peaceful hunter-gatherers and pottery makers

• Lived in rock shelters and caves• Archeologists have found some of these caves

decorated with paintings

300 BC:Bantu-speaking migrants arrive from the north and begin farming, signifies the start of tribal

society in the region.

300 BC:Bantu-speaking migrants arrive from the north and begin farming, signifies the start of tribal

society in the region.• With their arrival the Khosian people moved

south-east to Namibia and Botswana• The bantu people lived in thatched houses

made of wooden poles and earthen walls• These houses are still built today in rural

Zimbabwe because they keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter

• With their arrival the Khosian people moved south-east to Namibia and Botswana

• The bantu people lived in thatched houses made of wooden poles and earthen walls

• These houses are still built today in rural Zimbabwe because they keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter

700 AD - 1000 AD:Trade with Arabians and Persians begins and

Mapungubwe is established as a well-organized trading center.

700 AD - 1000 AD:Trade with Arabians and Persians begins and

Mapungubwe is established as a well-organized trading center.

• A centralized government is started with a strong ruling class

• Their economy was based on cattle and the more cattle you owned the more wealth and power you had

• Mapungubwe continued to grow in both size and importance and trade is expanded to include the Swahili Coast giving them access to luxury goods.

• A centralized government is started with a strong ruling class

• Their economy was based on cattle and the more cattle you owned the more wealth and power you had

• Mapungubwe continued to grow in both size and importance and trade is expanded to include the Swahili Coast giving them access to luxury goods.

1000 AD - 1400 AD:The Shona people take over and build the huge

walled stone city called Great Zimbabwe

1000 AD - 1400 AD:The Shona people take over and build the huge

walled stone city called Great Zimbabwe

• The Shona trading empire was powerful because gold, copper, and ivory were plentiful

• Great Zimbabwe became the capital of Southern Africa

• Rise of Monomotapa Empire

• The Shona trading empire was powerful because gold, copper, and ivory were plentiful

• Great Zimbabwe became the capital of Southern Africa

• Rise of Monomotapa Empire

1400’s:Unstable Empires

1400’s:Unstable Empires

• Rebel group established Changamire Empire, overthrew Monomotapa

• Population rose to +18,000 people• Establishment of Torwa dynasty,

traded gold and livestock• Rozwi government

• Rebel group established Changamire Empire, overthrew Monomotapa

• Population rose to +18,000 people• Establishment of Torwa dynasty,

traded gold and livestock• Rozwi government

1500’s:European exploration/exploitation

1500’s:European exploration/exploitation

• Antonio Fernandez of Portugal explores Zimbabwe.

• Beginning of trade and exploitation by Europeans.

• Christianity is also introduced by Portuguese explorers.

• Antonio Fernandez of Portugal explores Zimbabwe.

• Beginning of trade and exploitation by Europeans.

• Christianity is also introduced by Portuguese explorers.

1800’s:European Exploration and Colonization

1800’s:European Exploration and Colonization

• Nguni people defeat Changamire empire• Cecil John Rhodes led European

explorers to Southern Africa.• Rhode leads the British South Africa

Company to colonize Southern Rhodesia. • Northern and SouthernRhodesia are nowconsidered separate territories

• Nguni people defeat Changamire empire• Cecil John Rhodes led European

explorers to Southern Africa.• Rhode leads the British South Africa

Company to colonize Southern Rhodesia. • Northern and SouthernRhodesia are nowconsidered separate territories

1920’s - 1930’s:1920’s - 1930’s:

• Southern Rhodesia becomes a self-• governing British colony• End of British South African administration• Whites choose self-government• Uprising of black opposition to colonial rule

• Southern Rhodesia becomes a self-• governing British colony• End of British South African administration• Whites choose self-government• Uprising of black opposition to colonial rule

1953:Central African Federation

1953:Central African Federation

• Creation of the Federation of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Nyasaland (Malawi), and Northern Rhodesia (Zambia)

• British government puts pressure on Southern Rhodesia to allow blacks better jobs

• White workers begin to feel worried that their “status” will be

diminished

• Creation of the Federation of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Nyasaland (Malawi), and Northern Rhodesia (Zambia)

• British government puts pressure on Southern Rhodesia to allow blacks better jobs

• White workers begin to feel worried that their “status” will be

diminished

1960’s:“Unilateral Declaration of Independence”

1960’s:“Unilateral Declaration of Independence”

• Zambia and Malawi gain independence, resulting in the end of the Central African Federation

• Ian Smith becomes Prime Minister of Britain, and creates the Unilateral Declaration of Independence

for Zimbabwe under White rule.• The United Nations reacts with outrage and imposes economic sanctions.

• Zambia and Malawi gain independence, resulting in the end of the Central African Federation

• Ian Smith becomes Prime Minister of Britain, and creates the Unilateral Declaration of Independence

for Zimbabwe under White rule.• The United Nations reacts with outrage and imposes economic sanctions.

1970’s:Civil War1970’s:

Civil War• Rhodesia recognizes itself a Republic.• Civil war between government troops

and black guerillas• Prime Minister Smith works to establish

a government where most of the leaders are black, and creates a new constitution which guarantees minority rights.

• Abel T. Muzorewa becomes first black Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

• Rhodesia recognizes itself a Republic.• Civil war between government troops

and black guerillas• Prime Minister Smith works to establish

a government where most of the leaders are black, and creates a new constitution which guarantees minority rights.

• Abel T. Muzorewa becomes first black Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

1980’s:Independence

1980’s:Independence

• Rhodesia’s name officially changed to Zimbabwe, Independence recognized as April 18th

• Mugabe named new Prime Minister, and later becomes executive president as he changed the Constitution

• Armed conflicts between the Zanu and Zapu tribes

• Mugabe and Nkomo combine parties to end violence

• Rhodesia’s name officially changed to Zimbabwe, Independence recognized as April 18th

• Mugabe named new Prime Minister, and later becomes executive president as he changed the Constitution

• Armed conflicts between the Zanu and Zapu tribes

• Mugabe and Nkomo combine parties to end violence

1990’s:Economic Strife

1990’s:Economic Strife

• Scandal surrounded the Elections of 1990, Mugabe uses scare tactics• AIDS epidemic spreads throughout

Zimbabwe• Economic and Political issues, taxes, riots,

and strikes increase• Government seizes white-owned farms, MDC

(Movement for Democratic Change) led by Morgan Tsvangirai attempts to change constitution

• Scandal surrounded the Elections of 1990, Mugabe uses scare tactics• AIDS epidemic spreads throughout

Zimbabwe• Economic and Political issues, taxes, riots,

and strikes increase• Government seizes white-owned farms, MDC

(Movement for Democratic Change) led by Morgan Tsvangirai attempts to change constitution

2000 - 2004:Disease and Distress

2000 - 2004:Disease and Distress

• Movement for Democratic Change raises support, and protests 2002 election for Mugabe

• Cholera epidemic outbreak• Interruptions in water supplies, broken sewage

pipes, contaminated resevoirs, food shortages• Election brings Mugabe to power for another 6

years• MDC leader Tsvangirai arrested for opposition protests, also charged for treason

• Movement for Democratic Change raises support, and protests 2002 election for Mugabe

• Cholera epidemic outbreak• Interruptions in water supplies, broken sewage

pipes, contaminated resevoirs, food shortages• Election brings Mugabe to power for another 6

years• MDC leader Tsvangirai arrested for opposition protests, also charged for treason

2005 - Present:Humanitarian Crisis

2005 - Present:Humanitarian Crisis

• Cholera Epidemic widespread, killing thousands

• Hygiene and sanitation issues increase• Inflation exceeds 231 million %• Mugabe and Tsvangirai agree on power-

sharing deal• Amendments to control media made• International aid making conditions worse,

people are now dependent on food distributions and the economy is going nowhere

• Cholera Epidemic widespread, killing thousands

• Hygiene and sanitation issues increase• Inflation exceeds 231 million %• Mugabe and Tsvangirai agree on power-

sharing deal• Amendments to control media made• International aid making conditions worse,

people are now dependent on food distributions and the economy is going nowhere

2005 - Present Pictures:2005 - Present Pictures:

SourcesSources

• Chinula, Tione, and Vincent Talbot. Zimbabwe. Minneapolis: Lonely Planet Publications, 2002.

• Blair, David. Degrees in Violence : Robert Mugabe and the Struggle for Power in Zimbabwe. London: Burns & Oates, 2002.

• "BBC NEWS | Africa | Country profiles | Timeline: Zimbabwe." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 01 Feb. 2009 <http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1831470.stm?ad=1>.

• "Zimbabwe." World Vital Records - Family history, genealogy information and genealogy research & training. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://worldvitalrecords.com/zimbabwetimeline.html>.

• Chinula, Tione, and Vincent Talbot. Zimbabwe. Minneapolis: Lonely Planet Publications, 2002.

• Blair, David. Degrees in Violence : Robert Mugabe and the Struggle for Power in Zimbabwe. London: Burns & Oates, 2002.

• "BBC NEWS | Africa | Country profiles | Timeline: Zimbabwe." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 01 Feb. 2009 <http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1831470.stm?ad=1>.

• "Zimbabwe." World Vital Records - Family history, genealogy information and genealogy research & training. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://worldvitalrecords.com/zimbabwetimeline.html>.