History
Map
East Africa
Ancient Times: Trade Expands
Trade with Egypt, West Asia and India is booming. Trading ports pop up along the coast and settlements expand. East African goods like gold and ivory are popular for trading. The Swahili language develops through trade with Arabic-speaking countries.
Mid 1400s: Slave Trade
The slave trade expands during this period, though it is thought to have started as far back as the 2nd century. The island of Zanzibar becomes the center for the East African slave trade.
1500: Early Colonialism
Portugal takes East Africa’s ports by force. They take over the trade of goods and slaves between East Africa and the rest of the world.
Late 1800s: European Rule
Following in Portugal’s footsteps, other European countries begin to forcefully take over East Africa in a race for complete continental control known as the “Scramble for Africa.”
Early 1800s: Slave Trade Ends
Slavery is gradually eliminated in Europe and the Americas and the slave trade ends.
Mid 1900s: Independence
After the Second World War, East African countries start gaining independence, one by one. The Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya eventually leads to Kenyan independence in 1963.
1994: Civil War
Rwandan genocide—the conflict between the Hutus and the Tutsis, two ethnic tribes, results in a genocide that leaves 800,000 mostly Tutsi people dead.
Today: Weak Governments
Governments of East African countries aren’t very strong yet because these countries have not been independent for very long. Some of these governments are not honest and don’t always put people first.