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Migration of the Bantu peoples into South Africa
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South African Trade with the Arabs and Phoenicians in ivory, rhino horn, gold, shells and slaves
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Zulu and Xhosa tribes establish large kingdoms
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The dutch establish the port of Cape Town. They are the first Europeans to settle in South Africa.
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The British take control of Cape Town
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Gold is descovered in Johannesburg and it is making the city rich.
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1899-1902
Dutch settlers fight the British in the Boer War. Britain eventually gains control of South Africa. -
South Africa becomes an independed nation
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Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Manela is born on July 18 in a small village in South Africa. A teacher later gives him the English name Nelson.
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Apartheid is introduced. Laws legally and physically separate different racial groups.
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The African National Congress come.
A black civil rights group begins a compaign for Defiance of Unjust Laws as a protest against apartheid. Nelson Mandela is one of the leaders. -
In the town Sharpeville, 67 Africans are killed while prostesting Apartheid.
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Mandela is arrested for plotting against the government. Though he stays active politically, he will spend 27 years in prison.
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Hundreds of black protesters are killed in an uprising in Soweto.
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President F.W. de Klerk announces the end of apartheid. Mandela is freed from prison after serving 27 years.
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De Klerk and Mandela are jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
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South Africa holds it's first elections in which all races can vote. Nelson Mandela is elected President.