Figure 1.--Madagascar became a part of the Eropean Scramble for Africa when the French invaded the island (1881). Missinaries as in other contries were an important part of the colonial enterprise. This photo was taken in 1928 at the Evangelical mission of Mahajanga, Madagascar. The boys depicted are all children of staff of Société des missions évangéliques de Paris (Evangelical Missions Society, Paris). The younger boy in the center is the son of a French missionary. They are with Charles (back row right), a Malgasy teacher that is also their supervisor. It seems to be a little boarding school for staff's children. Probably there was also a girls'group. The boys are clothed in a similar way, although two of them wear more traditional garments. Also the French boy goes barefoot.

Madagascar is separated from southern Africa by the 400 km-wide Mozambique Channel. For reasons of geography we have included it with our African history section. Some historians argue that culturally it has more in common with Asia. The people are etnically African and Malay. DNA studies will provide some important information. The Mozambique Channel wile relatively narrow was wide enough to prevent Africans from reaching Madagascar in the various waves of pre-historic migrations. They are believed have followed herds of migrating animals along land routes. The first humans did not reach Madagascar until fairly modern times, about 2,000 years ago. The origins of these early people and how they reached Madagascar is still unknown. They appear to have been prople from India, Africa, and Arabia. These people lived in tribes. Little is known about the early tribal history. The interesting aspect of the country's history is that over time these people merged to form a fascinating cultural and ethnic synthesis. Living on an island may have been a factor. This has left the country a national society that despite the disparate origind that is remarkably uniform in ethnicity, language and culture. Arab traders dominated the Induian Ocean and established coastal trading posts (9th-14th centuries). The ruins of Arab fortifications date from the 9th century. Arab dominance of the Indian Ocean was first challenged by the Portuguese (16th century). Portugese explorers landed on the island (1500), but did not colonize it. They and the Spanish defeated Arab seapower in the Indian Ocean. Dutch, English, and French seamen soon followed the Portuguese. As Portuguese and Spanish seapower wained, Madagascar became an object of both British and French imperial interest. The first French settlement appeared (1643). French settlement occurred at Tolagnaro (formerly Faradofay) on the southeast coast. The French were active there for over 30 years. The settlers made an effort to coexist with the Antanosy, the principal local ethnic group. Eventually relations deteriorated. The Antanosy massacred the French (1674). A few survivors managed to reach Reunion. The French did not return for more than a century. The Malagasy tribes formed coalitions to defend themselves from the Europeans. King Andrianampoinimerina united the tribes, forming a single united kingdom for the first time (1794). Missionary efforts began (19th century). Among other activities the missiionaries founded the first formal schools on the island. The French finally made Madagascar a protectorate (1883) and a colony (1896). Madagascar became a memembr of the French Community (1958). The country achieved independence (1960) and for many years was called the Malagasy Republic. The first president was Philibert Tsiranand.

Geography

Madagascar is separated from southern Africa by the 400 km-wide Mozambique Channel. Geographically, Madagascar is par of Africa. Thus for reasons of geography we have included it with our African history section. Some historians argue, for good reason, that culturally it has more in common with Asia. Malagasy culture, including the language which is a key aspect of culture, have more in common with Asia and Oceania, especifically Indonesia, than they do with Africa. This dichotomy has not much bothered the people of the island. It has affected scholarly work on Madagascar history. Madagascar does not become an obvious part of the African or the Asian category commonly used in area studies. As a result, scholarly work on Madagascar history has been neglected.

Ethnicity

The people of Madagascar are etnically African and Malay. DNA studies will provide some important information. The Mozambique Channel wile relatively narrow was wide enough to prevent Africans from reaching Madagascar in the various waves of pre-historic migrations. They are believed have followed herds of migrating animals along land routes.

Pre-history

While Africa was the cradel of man kind, leaving pre-histories extenmding millins of years, Madagascar has no pre-history. The island was ttally uninhabited while humans ecolved acroos the Mozambique Channel.

Ancient Settlement

The first humans did not reach Madagascar until fairly modern times, about 2,000 years ago. The origins of these early people and how they reached Madagascar is still unknown. They may have been believed to have been prople from India, Indonesia, Africa, and Arabia. The majority view point at this time is that the first inhabitants were small groups of Indonesian origin. [Brown, History.] They appear to have migrated over time along the Indian Ocean rim, touching the East African coast before finally settling in Madagascar, perhaps because it is was uninhabited. These migratins probably took place over a considerable period of time, beginning in the earliest centuries of the Christian era. The major component sems to have been Indinesians, but other peoples may have also reached Madagascar. These early peoples lived in tribes. Little is known about the early tribal history. The interesting aspect of the country's history is that over time these people merged to form a fascinating cultural and ethnic synthesis. Living on an island may have been a factor. This has left the country a national society that despite the disparate origins that is remarkably uniform in lenicity, language and culture.

Arabs (9th-14th centuries)

Arab traders began establishing coastal colonies (9th century). The ruins of Arab fortifications date from the 9th century. Arab dominance of the Indian Ocean was first challenged by the Portuguese (16th century).

European Contact (16th-18th centuries)

Portuguese navigators reached the Cape of Good Hope (1486). They then began sailing east seeking Indua and China. Portugese explorers landed on Madagascar (1500), but did not colonize it. They and the Spanish defeated Arab seapower in the Indian Ocean at the Battle of Diu (1509). Dutch, English, and French seamen soon followed the Portugueseand Spanish. As Portuguese and Spanish seapower wained, Madagascar became an object of both British and French imperial interest. It also became a haven for European pirates. At the same time, networks of import-export trade developed between the Europeans and Malagasy groups. The first French settlement appeared (1643). French settlement occurred at Tolagnaro (formerly Faradofay) on the southeast coast. The French were active there for over 30 years. The settlers made an effort to coexist with the Antanosy, the principal local ethnic group. Eventually relations deteriorated. The Antanosy massacred the French (1674). A few survivors managed to reach Reunion. The French did not return for more than a century.

Merina Kingdom (1794-1881)

French Colonial Rule (1881-1960)

The French invaded Madagascar and established a limited protectorate (1883). Three years of fighting followed. To end the fighting and resistance to colonial rule, the French launched aniother invasion with a larger force (1895). France formally declared Madagascar a colony (1896). They abolished the monarchy and made French the official language.

Independence (1960- )

France elected a new President, Charles De Gaulle (1958). De Gaulle immediately move to end the war in Algeria and move other cilonies toward independence. Madagascar became a member of the French Community (1958). As in other African countries, gthis proved to be only a brief way station to independence. The country achieved full independent 2 years later (1960). The first president was Philibert Tsiranand. The new government renamed their country the Malagasy Republic. Tsiranand proved to be a moderate leader. He was attacjked by radical elements who wanted socialist policuies and a radical anti-Western foreign policy. They charged that Tsiranand was as a puppet of the recently departed French. Tiring of the constant personal attacks, Tsiranana resigned (1972). He was succeeded by Didier Ratsiraka, a naval officer. President Ratsiraka was re-elected twice, replaced for one term by Dr. Albert Zafy (1991), and then re-elected a third time to his current title as President of the Malagasy Republic.

Sources

Brown, Sir Mervyn. History of Madagascar (Damien Tunacliffe, Cambridge, 1995). This is the first comprehensive English language history of Madagascar. Sir Mervyn was a former British ambassador.

Brown, Sir Mervyn. Madagascar Rediscovered (1978).

Ellis, Stephen. "History of Madagascar".

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Created: 11:04 PM 6/26/2007
Last updated: 3:30 AM 6/12/2009