|
The area of the modern Congo was first inhabited by Pygmies. Subsequently, Bantu peoples moved south into what is modern Angola, Gabon, and Congo/Zaire. Banu kingdomes arose in the area (Kongo, Loango, and Teke) controlled trade routes that led into gthe vast Congo River basin. Portuguese explorers moving south reached the Congo River (late-15th century). Slave trading became a major economic activity. Slaves captured in the interior were brought tothe coast and traded to the Europeans. As the British Royal Navy ended the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Bantu kingdoms declined (19th century). France emerged as the principal colonial power. Pierre Savorgnon de Brazza promoted French interests. He competed with Belgian interests in the Congo basin. .
King Leopold of Belgium was particularly interested in the Congo basin. His International Congo Association (Belgian Congo/Zaire) gained control over an immense area of the interior. De Brazza negotiated treaties with native chiefs to the north og the Congo River who placed their domains under French protection (1880s). France developed several colonies in central Africa: Middle Congo (modern Congo), Gabon, Chad, and Oubangui-Chari (modern Central African Republic). France reorganized its colonial possessions in the area as French Equatorial Africa (AEF) (1908).
Brazzaville was established as the federal AEF capital. French colonial policy focused on the extraction of raw materials which was conducted by private companies. France completed the Congo-Ocean Railway (CFCO) (1924-34), a major engineering achievement. CFCO was a major step in opening the interior to economic development. Towns along CFCO developed into major Congo cities. The Atlantic terminus of Pointe-Noire as the colony's principal port. Independence was followed by a period of instability. Capt. Marien Ngouabi established a Marxist people's republic (1968). Like other Communist stastes, it was an umitigated disaster. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Congo has began moving toward multi=party democracy. There have been problems, incliding a vicious civil war (1997). The country, however, does seem to be masking progress.
The Congo River is one of the great African Rivers. The Congo basin dominates much of central Africa. The great basin of the Congo River lies astride astride the Equator in west-central Africa. Ironically it mirrors the Amazonian Basin across the Atlantic tgo the west. These two river basins are the worls's largest, in part a gelogical artifact of plate tectonics. The Congo Basin is somewhat smaller than the Amazonian Basin, comprising an area of 1.3 million square miles. Both basins support huge rain forests. While similar in many ways to the Amazon, the Congo rather than proceeding due east, flows northeast and forms a vast arc in central Africa. The drainage area of the Congo Basin is primarily centered on the Congo/Zaire, but includes most the Congo (Brazzaville), the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, and parts of Cameroon and Tanzania. Until the 19th century the interior was little known to Europeans. Phrases such as the “dark heart” of Africa" appeared in the Western press and literature.
The Congo Basin was was first inhabited by Pygmies, a primitive stone age hunter-gatherer people. The Congo Basin is one of several areas of the worls in which Pygmies are found, including many areas of central Africa. The reason for their short stature is not well understood. Various theories exist, one is low-levels of ultra violet light in rain forests.
Bantu people from West Africa moved into Central Africa, absorbing or displacing the more primitive Pygmies into the more remote areas where they still can be found today. The Bantu following established trade routes moved south into what is modern Angola, Gabon, and Congo/Zaire. This migration is believe to have begun in modern times, although the details are a subject of dispute among historians. Some historians believe that migrating Bantu peoples first reached the northwest of Central Africa (5th century AD). From there they expanded into the Congo Basin and eventually into southern Africa. Impoertant tribes included the Bakongo, Bateke, the Sanga, and others. The Bankongo seem particulasrly important. Their dispersal over wide areas in the Cingo Basin form the basis for the for the various ethnic affinities and rivalries that exiost today in the Congo and neighboring countries. The expansio nof the Bantu was largely a technological phenomenon. The Bantu began to acquire Irion Age technology. The stone age Pygmies and San people could not compete. Yhis was not just a mater of metal weapons and warfare. There were very significan economic factors associated with the Irob Age. Metal tools, especially relatively inexpensive iron, helped revolutionize agriculture and animal husbandry. Thus the more primitive hunter gathers were displaced to the less fertile, remote areas in the east and southeast. The Bantu were fully established in the Congo Basin and other areas of central Adrica (10th century). The Bantu with more efficent agricultural methods nmot only expanded, but populatioins grew significantly. Sophisticated trade routes developed both within and outside the reegion. Important commidities included gold, ivory, salt, iron and copper.
As the Bantu expanded and populations grew, they established well organized kingdoms to control the resources and trade routes in central Africa. The Bantu developed several important kingdoms, including Kongo, Loango, and Teke. They controlled the trade routes leading to the vast Congo River Basin and the resources located there. From an early point, the Congo basin became important in the African slace trade to the economies of the Bantu kingdoms.
Portuguese explorers moving south reached the Congo River (late-15th century). The Portuguese first crossed the Equator in an expedition sponsored by Fernão Gomes (1473). Diogo Cão was the first European to reach the mouth of the Congo River (1482). The Portuguese had proceeded south along the Western African coast in short steps as they were perfecting their ships and navigational techniques. Thus the achievements along the coasdst of southern Africa came more quickly. Cão in another expedition thst reached Cape Cross (modern Namibia), very close to the Tropic of Capricorn (1486). Vasco de Gama fibally rounded the Cape of Good Hope (1492). Trading with Asia was the primsry Portuguese interest. Thus they made little effort to move into the African interior. The Portuguese did set up trading posts, both to provision their trading ships sailing to Asia and to trade with the Africans.
This brought the Portuguese and subsequently other Europeans in contact with people of the Congo Delta. As ax result, commercial relationships developed between the inland Bantu kingdoms and European traders. The Europeans traded manufactured goods for commodities from the Congo basin, including gold and ivory. Gradually slaves captured in the interior came the most valuable commiodity. A key part of this development was the European colonies established in the Americas. The Native American peoples perished in large numbers as a result of mistreatment and European diseases. At the same time, sugar proved to be an enormously profitable commodity and labor was needed to operate the plantations. The Congo river delta prived to be a key commercial hub for the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Slaves captured in the interior were brought to the coast and traded to the Europeans. The Bantu kingdoms profited from the slave trade. They helped Arab slavers capture people in the interior and allowed the transport over vast distances to the European traders along the Atlantic coast. The Kongo and the Teke fought each other and captured people as a method to expand their own territories and sphere of influence. As the British Royal Navy in the 19th century struggled to end the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Bantu kingdoms declined and eventually collapsed (19th century).
France emerged as the principal colonial power. Pierre Savorgnon de Brazza promoted French interests. He competed with Belgian interests in the Congo basin. King Leopold of Belgium was particularly interested in the Congo basin and extrodinarily brutal in his colonization efforts. His International Congo Association (Belgian Congo/Zaire) gained control over an immense area of the interior. De Brazza negotiated treaties with native chiefs to the north og the Congo River who placed their domains under French protection (1880s). As a result of Belgian brutality, many local chiefs were willing to deal with the French. France developed several colonies in central Africa: Middle Congo (modern Congo), Gabon, Chad, and Oubangui-Chari (modern Central African Republic). France reorganized its colonial possessions in the area as French Equatorial Africa (AEF) (1908).
Brazzaville was established as the federal AEF capital. French colonial policy focused on the extraction of raw materials which was conducted by private companies. France completed the Congo-Ocean Railway (CFCO) (1924-34), a major engineering achievement. CFCO was a major step in opening the interior to economic development. Towns along CFCO developed into major Congo cities. The Atlantic terminus of Pointe-Noire as the colony's principal port.
World War II as in much of the developing wotld was a major turning point in the Congo. Germany's invasiion abnd conquest of France stateled the world (May-June 1940). The resulting aemidtice created a rump Fremnch state at Vichy which retained control of France's colonial empire. Most of the colonies recognized Vivchy authority. The AEF colonial authorities in Brazzaville sided with General Charles DeGaulle and the Free French in London. Brazzaville thus became the symbolic capital of Free France (1940-43). The Brazzaville Conference addressed major issues in French colonial administration (1944). French authorities abolished forced labor, granted French citizenship to colonial subjects, decentralized administration, and established locally elected advisory assemblies. Congo benefitted from the post-War economic boom in Europe, creating strong markets for Congo products. France was also able to finance infrastructure projects. Congo benefitted from itss central geographic location within the AEF and the fact that the AEF federal capital was located at Brazzaville. The French Loi Cadre (framework law) reformed voting practices and authorized limited self-government in French colonies (1956).
This set in motion a struggle for power. Ethnic-based tribal rivalries surfaced as it became clear that France was moving to transfer power to local authorities. Newly formed political parties struggled for power. A popular referendum held throughout the AEF approved a new constitution and disolved the AEF into four autonomous members of the French Community (1958). The Middle Congo colony was renamed the Congo Republic. Vicious riots took place in Brazzaville (1959).
France formally granted independence to the Congo Republic (August 1960). The Conolese National Assembly selected Fulbert Youlou, a former Catholic priest, as their first president. He came from the Pool region of the southeast. He first emerged on the national scene when France began to miove toward indeoendence during the mid-1950s. The vote in the National Assembly was very closed and reflected ethnic-based tribal rivalries. These tensions marked Youlou's 3 years as president. Labor unions led demonstrations which developed into rioting against Youlou (1963). Rival political parties joined the disorders. The 3-day disorders (Les Trois Glorieuses) led to the overthrow of President Youlou. Officials were arrested or simply ejected from power. The Congolese military seized control in the chaotic situation. The military appointed a civilian provisional government headed by Alphonse Massamba-Debat. A new constitution was approved and Massamba-Debat was elected President for a 5-year term. He was essentially a military bpuppet ruler. Massamba-Debat appointed Pascal Lissouba to serve as Prime Minister. The moderate Lissouba would later emerge as an important political figure after several decades of Marrxist brutality and economic failure.
The Congo became involved in the Cold War that emerged after World War II. President Massamba-Debat did not complete his term of office. Capt. Marien Ngouabi and other disgruntleed officers staged a coup (August 1968). Ngouabi and his fellow plotters formed the National Revolutionary Council to govern the country. The now Major Ngouabi assumed the presidency (December 31, 1968). Like many African officials, Ngouabi decided to move his country toward Communism. The decesions made by leaders like Ngoubi seemed a mix of limited education, lack of sophistication, and the appeal of dictatorialm power. In Europe the economic success of democracy and free marketing capitalism and the failure of Communism was becoming apparent. Throughout developing countries Communism and Socialist planned economics still had wide-spread appeal. President Ngouabi proclaimed Congo to be Africa's first "people's republic" and announced the decision of the National Revolutionary Movement to change its name to the Congolese Labor Party (PCT) (1969). This ushered in a long period of Marxist-Leninist corruption and political instability. President Ngouabi was assassinated (March 18, 1977).
The collapse of the Soviet Union (1991) finally sparked attempts at democratic reforms in the Congo. This began the move to multi-party democracy. Pascal Lassouba was able to emerge as an important contender for political power. He had a rival, Sassou-Nguesso. Lassouba won the first democratic elections creating hopes for a more prosperous, peaceful future (1992). The lack of democrartic traditions allowed Lassouba to rig subsequent elections to cement his hold ion power (1993 and 1994). This resulted in a serious political crisis. International arbitration helped to defuse the situation for a while, but tensions between Lissouba and Sassou-Nguesso erupted into disorders and eventually fighting (1997). The resulting Civil War caused emense damage and suffering. With support from Angola,
Sassou-Nguesso emerged as the victor in the Civil War and seized control of the country.
Sassou-Nguesso not only promised democratic reforms and political freedom, but established an actual time table for the promised reforms, begining about 2001. As promo\ised, they went into effect on schedule. The Government implemented a new Constitution. The Giocernment also granted amnesty to virtually all opponents, although amnesty for Lissouba was delayed several years. Another election maintained Sassou-Nguesso in power. Rrefugees from the Civil War fighting begun to return (2007).
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Cloth and textiles]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Nain African country history page]
[Return to the Msin Congo page]
[Return to the Main African page]
[Angola]
[Cameroon]
[Cape Verde Islands]
[Democratic Republic of the Congo]
[Ethiopia]
[Gabon]
[Lessotho]
[Madagascar]
[Mali]
[Nigeria]
[Somalia]
[South Africa]
[Uganda]
