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100
First Shona Establishment
The first people from the Iron Age settled here and made one of the Midevil's biggest trade cities. -
Jan 1, 700
Early Trade
The first traders with the Shona people were the Arabians and Persians. This means that the Arabs and Persians were the beginning cause of the Shona people being involved in global ties and the Arabs and Shona have some connection. -
Jan 1, 1000
Organization of Civilization
The people known as the "Shona" came into present day Zimbabwe and created a stateless city named "Zimbabwe". -
Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1200
Start-Up of Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe, the center of a state based on cattle and gold is founded by the Karanga people. Origins of Monomotapa, a cattle and gold state neighboring, and eventually encompassing, Great Zimbabwe. -
Period: Jan 1, 1290 to Jan 1, 1450
Zimbabwe Thrives
Zimbabwe had a peaceful and calm society that was strong and flourishing during this time. The economy was mainly based off of the amazing soil for agriculture, cattle keeping, mineral wealth, and excessive trade since it was close to water and took part in the Indian Ocean trade. This period was followed by a downfall due to lack of agricultural production and the major change in who ran the trade in this are starting at the end of the post classical period. -
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to Jan 1, 1500
Zimbabwe Empire Expansion
Nyatsimba, Mwene Matapa or Monomotapa, was chief of the Zimbabwe Empire. He conquered the middle Zambezi Valley and built stone citadels at Great Zimbabwe. -
Jan 1, 1500
Portugese Expansion
As the Portugese explored during the beginning of the pre-modern era, colonializm was a major factor around the world, especially in Europe. The portugese began to colonize the area of Zimbabwe to spread the Christian faith and traditions. This began to arouse conflict since, as you can imagine, the native people of Zimbabwe had already established a government and built cities. -
Jan 1, 1569
Portuguese Invasion
A large military conquest led by Francisco Barreto tried to establish Portuguese control over present-day Zimbabwe. Although this attack failed, it eventually led to Portuguese traders to be more influential. -
Portuguese Second Invasion
During the 17th Century, the armies under Portuguese control conquered Zimbabwe. -
Independence from Portugal
The Portuguese were defeated by a chieftaincy of present-day Zimbabwe. The chiefs then liberated the other parts of the regions. -
Period: to
Colonialism
During this period, colonolism and trading became one of th biggest aspects of life. This impacted Zimbabwe a lot considering that they were colonized and owned by Britain during this time, and they quickly had to adapt Britain's economic system. Since the Zimbabwe people did not understand this concept, this led to chaos within the region. -
British Colonization
The British South African Company colonizes Zimbabwe and labels it Rhodesia. This area is relatively close to water but was mainy colonized so that the British could have more land fod glory and to spread God through missionaries. -
Change of rule
Similar to how the British first governed the Americas when they were colonized, the British allowed the nation of South Rhodnesia to be self governing but to remain loyal to the British monarch and to hold strong trade with them. -
Impact of World War 2
The Second World War fundamentally changed the relationship between the colonizers and the colonized. In Southern Rhodesia, 1000s of Africans actively participated in the fighting, both on the war front and back home through production of foodstuffs and various minerals essential to the war effort. On the war front, Africans fought side by side and on equal terms with whites. They came face to face with shortcomings of the white man which debunked the notions of white invincibility and superiori -
Formation of Political Parties
Joshua Nkomo formed and headed the African National Congress, Rhodesia's first black nationalist political party. This was the first political party in the nation and really affected how the nation looks at politics and governmental structure as a whole. -
Southern Rhodesian African National Congress
In 1957, the City Youth League and the Bulawayo-based African National Council came together to form the country’s first national political party, the Southern Rhodesian African national Congress (SRANC, later simply called the ANC) under Joshua Nkomo. The birth of the City Youth League and subsequent nationalist parties at this time has to be seen in the context of the quickening pace of African nationalism in the post-Second World War era which resulted in the landmark and inspirational indepe -
Zimbabwe African National Union
In February 1959, the colonial government of Rhodesia declared a state of emergency and banned the ANC under the newly created Unlawful Organisations Act. Party assets were confisticated while over 500 political leaders were arrested. However, the African nationalists, growing increasingly militant, were unrelenting and formed the National Democratic Party (NDP) on 1 January, 1960 under Joshua Nkomo. A landmark demand by the NDP was majority rule under universal suffrage. The NDP’s militancy, pa -
Period: to
The Liberation War
The civil war/liberation struggle that engulfed Rhodesia in the wake of the socio-political and economic developments that occurred during the UDI period was a complex one. It marks how the crisis in Rhodesia escalated as opposition to white rule became increasingly militant. It is a war bedeviled by many ‘struggles within the struggle’. The final phase of the war was littered many atrocities that culminated in all the contestants in the struggle agreeing on the peace modalities at the Lancaster -
Independence
Southern Rhodesia (known simply as Rhodesia) seperated from British colonization. After the nation declared itself independent by declaring Ian Smith the Prime Minister, Britain banned trade with them and declared the action illegal. -
Rhodesia Sanctions
In 1966, the year after Rhodesia declared itself independent from Britain, the United Nations provided the nation with sanctions. This was to provide it with protection since this was the first time in a few centuries that the nation had been seperated from colonial rule. The United Nations protected it from outside invaders and further colonization as Rhodesia returned to it's previous independence. This wasn't a hard transition since the nation was already self governing. -
Rhodesia formally proclaimed itself a Republic.
Rhodesia declared itself a republic on 2 March 1970, it had a new constitution, prime ministers who were reported to presidents, who were regarded as ceremonial figureheads. This state however is considered unrecongnized during the Cold War. -
Switch of Racial Power
Smith, Muzorewa, Sithole, and Chief Jeremiah Chirau signed an agreement to transfer power to the African Citizens by Dec. 31, 1978. -
Period: to
First Zimbabwe President
Canaan Sodindo Banana, Zimbabwe's 1st president, was born near Bulawayo.He was first to run the Repuplican Government of Zimbabwe -
Prime Minister Banned
In 1987, the people of Zimbabwe denied to have a Prime Minister into office. The Prime Minister was replaced with the spot of an Executive President. However, in 2009 the Prime Minister position returned to office and then again was switched back to an Executive President. This often changing suggest that the government is new and is having trouble deciding on what they want. -
Robert Mugabe President
Zimbabwe emerged as an independent state on 18th April 1980 with Robert Mugabe as Prime Minister and Canaan Banana as ceremonial President. Later after 7- years of the other president Mugabe becomes President. -
Period: to
House of Assembly
In 1990, the senate was removed from the government of Zimbabwe. It was replaced by a House of Assembly. This changed the government from the senate voting upon laws that would be placed into action and denied, into a house that makes laws and sends them to the executive president for a final ruling. The house of Assembly was removed in 2005 and replaced with the senate. -
AID from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe sent a small military unit into Congo to support the government of President Laurent Kabila during the Second Congo War. They helped since they had a good relationship betweeen eachothers. -
Constituion Revision Denied
In Febuary of 2000, a new constiution was created and voted upon the people. The major difference this constituion had was the redistribution of land owned by white people to black people. It was denied despite there being a majority of black people in the nation which suggest that the people there don't want superiority to either race, but equality for all. -
Trade Begins
U.S. barred oil sales to Rhodesia. This is very important since U.S. often has time where oil becomes or appears really low so trade with Zimbabwe helps it economy grow and U.S. receive oil. -
Period: to Jan 1, 1500
Great Zimbabwe
During the Midevil Era, Great Zimbabwe became one of the most important trading regions. The main trading items were gold, iron, and cattle.