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While sailing to the African coast, Diogo Cao's crew was desperate for water and found muddy brown water rushing into the bay. They followed the water and found the Congo River.
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Joseph Conrad was born in Berdyzcow to Apollo Korzeniowski and Ewa nee Bobrowska.
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After Conrad's father was arrested for patriotic conspiracy, his family was exiled to Vologda, Siberia.
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Conrad became an orphan and was placed in the care of his uncle at the age of 12.
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At the age of 20, Joseph Conrad learned English. His first language was Polish.
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Conrad attempts to commit suicide by shooting himself in the chest but recovers.
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After missing out on the Congo in the scramble, Leopold was determined to reclaim his land. He had Henry Stanley travel up and down the Congo River and establish 22 small towns.
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President Chester A. Arthur decided that the cessions claimed by Leopold were lawful and recognized the International Association of the Congo's claim on the region.
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The Congo Free State became known as the Belgian Congo after Belgium gained control of it.
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The Free State of Congo was created after the Scramble for Africa
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European countries colonized all of Africa. Before this, the only areas that were colonized were areas near the coast including the Congo.
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Conrad visited the Belgian Congo. He was able to write one of his very famous novels, but also had a physical and mental breakdown
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Conrad retired from his life as a seaman and published his first book, Almayer's Folly
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Joseph Conrad married Jessie George and they had two sons together.
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Joseph Conrad published his short story "Heart of Darkness". This story was based in the Congo where he spent a large portion of his life while he was a seaman.
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After political pressure and diplomatic maneouvres, Leopold II was removed from power and the Free State of Congo was annexed as a Belgium colony.
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At this time the Congo was called the Belgian Congo and consisted of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.
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Joseph Conrad died at his home of a heart attack. He was 67 years old and died in Canterbury, England.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo recieved its indepedence from Belgium.
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Mobutu seized power and renamed the country Zaire.
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A dam, Inga I, was built to harvest the Congo River's power.
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Rwanda invaded the Congo to flush out extremist Hutu militias.
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Rebel insurgent Gen. Laurent Kabila overthrew Mobutu and changed the Zaire back to the DR of Congo.
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The DR of Congo was involved in the African "World War" in which hundreds of people died.
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Laurent Kabila was assasinated and his son Joseph Kabila took over power.
