Imperialism in South Africa:

 In 1652, a European settlement was established by the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope.  At first, it was serving as a refreshment/refueling station for the company ’ s ships on the way to India

 Some Dutch people stayed and set up small farms (The Boers)

 As their numbers increased, they expanded northwards  The land in the north was less fertile, and better suited for Cattle Herding.  The Dutch “ Cowboys ” led a rugged but free life.

 Some whites used Slave Labor and developed a superiority complex over Black South Africans who had less technology.  The Dutch Calvinists believed that people were either chosen or damned, and that the Blacks were damned.

 As the Whites expanded north, wars with the Black Africans became common  In 1795, the Cape was seized by the British, and the rule of the Dutch East India Company was over

 In 1809, the British abolished the slave trade, and in 1833 banned it altogether.

 Dutch Boers trekked North to break away from the British  The Dutch felt the Brits. had no right to tell them how to manage their affairs (including slavery)  The Dutch wanted an independent state where there would be “ no ungodly equality between the races. ”

 As the Dutch moved north, they came into contact/conflict with the native Zulus…The Battle of Blood River (1838).  The Dutch prevailed due to superior technology.

 The Dutch defeated Shaka Zulu ’ s ½ Brother at Blood River.  Shaka had died a few years earlier.

 Shaka is famous for unifying much of Southern Africa

 His superior battle tactics and invention of a new weapon, the iklwa (A short stabbing spear), were his keys to victory.

 Eventually, the discovery of Gold and Diamonds in the Dutch lands led to the Boer War between the British and the Dutch ( ).

 The British prevailed and now controlled the Cape, Natal, and the Orange Free State.  The Brits. Established the Union of South Africa in 1910