A Brief History of Tanzania: A Traveler's Guide
Tanzania, the origin of the first human settlement and the land of wilderness, carries with it a unique history. Modern-day Tanzania was born in 1964, after the unification of Tanganyika mainland and the Zanzibar coastal archipelago. But, before getting its independence in 1964, Tanzania was ruled by many countries and people.
To know how the country of the first human settlement became present-day Tanzania, we have to go back and understand the history of Tanzania. Read on to learn a brief history of Tanzania through our blog.
The Stone Age History of Tanzania
The history of the early stone age of Tanzania was explored in an area where archaeologists found the first signs of humans - Olduvai Gorge, Northern Tanzania.
The stone tools, fossilized human remains, and relics found in Olduvai Gorge date back millions of years. This is why the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania is considered the "Cradle of Humankind." The oldest tools were found by Dr. Louis Leaky and later by Hans Reck, and are an example of the oldest human technology. Mary Leaky discovered the first human skull in this area in 1959, which was called the Nutcracker Man.
The oldest human fossils found in Tanzania are as old as 36 to 38 million years and are part of the Australopithecus afarensis family.
Mumba cave shows the history of the Middle Ages, the Last Stone Age and the first modern human behavior. About 10,000 years ago, Tanzania was the land of hunters and gatherers dominated by Khoisan-speaking people. Moving forward, 4000 to 3000 years ago, the Nilotic (Southern Ethiopian speakers) herdsmen came from the North. They introduced the knowledge of cooking, farming, and agriculture. 2000 years ago, Bantu-speaking people came from Western Africa and spread their knowledge of ironworking and building social and political organizations. The Nilotic in this area continued to migrate until the 18th century.
The Costal History of Zanzibar
In the first millennium CE, traders and travelers from West India and the Persian gulf made the East African coast economically strong. These markets exist in the Periplus of the Erythraean and Ptolemy geography texts.
During the same time, Islam started to have an impact on the Zanzibar coast. The Arabic influence on the language produced the new Kiswahili language. Kiswahili grew fast and reached far due to the trading business amongst the Indians, Arabs, and Persians, which in turn led to many cities flourishing between the 13th and 15th centuries throughout the coastal strip of Zanzibar. This period is famously known as the Shirazi Era, and the main trading happened in gold, ivory, and goods from China and India. During this period, the southern Tanzania city of Kilwa was believed to be one of the richest and most powerful in the world.
Vasco Da Gama, the great Portuguese explorer, visited the coasts of Africa's Great Lakes and remained for 32 days. Slowly, the incoming Portuguese people became prominent, and in 1505, Zanzibar island was taken under Portuguese control. The Portuguese commanded the shore until the early 18th century, when Arabs from Oman arrived. Zanzibar became a center of the Arab Slave trade during this time. Under Sultan Seyyid Said, Zanzibar island flourished and had a far-reaching impact - as far as Lake Tanganyika and Central Africa.
Also read: Top 5 Things to Do in Zanzibar
German East Africa Company
After the Arabs, the Portuguese and the French marked their presence in Tanzania, the country became a place of interest for German forces. In the wake of its colonial expansion to increase its market, the country turned its attention toward Tanzania. The first invasion conducted by the Germans resulted in the surrender of many Tanzanian chiefs due to their lack of modern warfare technology.
Apart from this, the land was already ravaged by the world’s biggest colonialist, Great Britain. After the German invasion, the land was divided equally between the British and Germans per the Anglo-German Agreement of 1886. The Germans tried to follow British expansion methods and got into trouble because of a Muslim uprising in the region they held. However, this was brought under control with the help of the British.
Soon, the German government realized the ineffectiveness of the German East Africa Company and brought the territories under its control. Though communication was initially an issue, the formation of the railway helped matters. Along with local plants, sisal, a fibrous plant, was introduced to the country, which led to the formation of the country’s most valuable business. Schools were built in the country to help with the shortage of educated and skilled labor.
Maji Maji Uprisal
Despite such efforts, German rule over the country was strongly opposed. Resentment levels were high, leading to an uprising popularly known as the Maji Maji Uprisal. The revolt, though unorganized, was widespread. It began in 1905 and spread over the southeastern part of Tanganyika before being put down in 1907. The uprisings led to a revisiting of German policies in the land. The administration was made slightly liberal to keep things under control.
The Era of British Dominance
Seeing the Germans struggling to recuperate after World War I, the British Navy blockaded the ports, which cut Tanzania off from Germany. Britain began its steady occupation of German territory. This led to the ousting of German forces from the country in a very short period of time and British dominance was established over the country.
The British brought about new and improved policies for Africans. The governors consulted with the British government and introduced various legislations in the country. The development was brought to a standstill due to the economic depression after 1929. Also, this was the period of Hitler’s rule in Germany, and he was already making claims over the territory.
When World War II broke out, Tanganyika focused on becoming self-sufficient and avoiding imports as much as possible. This led to increased efforts to produce primary products, ultimately strengthening the country’s economy.
After the war, Britain decided to place Tanganyika under the trust of the United Nations. This led to the formation of parties, such as TANU (Tanganyika African National Union) in the country, and elections were soon held.
Independence
TANU and its allies proved the majority in the elections, and many Africans came into power. In subsequent elections, TANU proved its dominance again and was unanimously brought into power as the first party of Tanganyika. Following this, the country attained independence on December 9, 1961, with Nyerere being its first prime minister. He was succeeded by Rashidi Kawawa a month later.
Wrapping Up
The country of Tanzania is known for its rich history and culture. Although it had its share of difficult times due colonialism, it survived it all and became a self-sustaining power by sheer effort. The culture found in Tanzania is a mix of Arabic, European, and African influences. With its vibrant land and unique features, the country is one of the most diverse and fascinating destinations in the world.
To plan your trip to learn and see more of Tanzania's history, plan your Tanzanian safari with Sababu Safaris today.
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Swahili: All the Basics for your Tanzanian Safari