The Important Factors Of Portuguese and British To Settle In Southern Africa Before 1700

During the period of the 15th century, the interest by European countries to establish settlement in Southern Africa developed; this was because of some discoveries that were found in southern Africa. It is for this reason that this write up will discuss important factors that made Europeans settle in Africa before 1700.

By the mid-16th century the Portuguese had already established administrative centres at Sena and Tete, and many inland trading centres, were they purchased gold, ivory, copper and tropical products from the surrounding people. The access of the Portuguese to the minerals that they found in the lower Zambezi Valley significantly gave interest for them to settle and expand the acquiring of gold, the discovery of gold lead to ideas of mining gold by the Portuguese.

The refuelling station also played an important role for the Portuguese to establish settlement in the lower Zambezi, to be specific cape Verde. This provided them with a station for them to refresh rest and service their ships at the end of the day the Portuguese saw it to be fit as the land in consideration was more of good supply to them. The lower Zambezi had already a trading post established by the Arab traders. This trade post was seen to be beneficial to the Portuguese, as they also had some trade items that hey obtained from their mother countries and transferred through their ships that were coming from Europe to India, these items were used to trade with the locals.

The Portuguese and Arab traders had serious trade competition between them, and when the Portuguese found the trading centre, which was established by the Arab traders, ivory and gold trading networks were established in the internal cities in Africa, The Arab traders were already trading with mwenemutapa’s kingdom and that of Great Zimbabwe, but the trading post established at the lower Zambezi valley was not provided with full protection over the trading centre. This trading centre had minerals; the Portuguese saw it as an opportunity to provide more completion to the Arab traders through trading with the Africans in Southern Africa. This is because the Arab traders had already established strong base in Eastern and Western Africa. So there was opportunity for the Portuguese to establish a strong base in Southern Africa, hence they did that.

In 1480 the Portuguese established settlement in the Kong region central of southern Africa, it is for this reason that the Portuguese gained interest in taking over the trade that the Arab traders had established in lower Zambezi. The taking over of this trade post was through force, the Portuguese arrived with ship and military force that they used on the Arab traders, the Arab traders left the trade post, and the Portuguese established permanent trading settlement. The Portuguese wanted to control the Indian Ocean trade route, the Indian trade route connected South East Asia, India, Arabia and East Africa, it was a profitable trade route.

Portuguese presence in southern African territories, such as that of Tete and Sena was done through involvement of themselves in local politics, local chiefs such as the mambo wanted protection from the neighbours and the Portuguese were seen to be able to provide such protection throw the provision of guns and establishing settlement in the respected areas. The Portuguese also provided clothing, Jewry and salt, this lead to Portuguese establishing settlement in Southern Africa.

Sena and Tete started experiencing many civil wars and succession disputes, this instability gave the Portuguese the idea of establishing control over these territories, this was done through powerful Portuguese traders who saw this as an opportunity for them to establish military and political control over the Tete who were found in the lower Zambezi valley.

Despite the Portuguese been loyal and providing goods to African societies, the Portuguese lacked well trained military men administrative officers. This meant that they had to find an alternative, the local settlers in Southern Africa provided such service especially at the military aspect, the were trained by the Portuguese, this gave the Portuguese the Authority or idea that they could establish permanent settlements Southern Africa.

The Dutch settlement at the cape began in 1647 with the ship wreck of the Dutch ship. The victims of ship wreck built a small fort named it sand fort of the Cape of Good Hope, this is how the settlement of the Dutch at the cape began. The clue that was stranded at the Cape of Good Hope stayed for one year, and this gave ideas of establishing of a refreshment centre. After their rescue and returned home, they preached good news about the centre. This lead to a clue of 90 men under the command of jan van Riebeck, this clue returned back to Southern Africa.

The clue was sent to establish a refreshment centre, near the cape of good hope which was later named table bay on 6 April 1652. During this period the Cape of Good Hope developed. while the Dutch at the cape of good hope they discovered that the cape of good hope had fertile soils, and the land was hardly occupied by anyone, this was an added advantage because they saw it as having no competition from other Europeans. In 1652 the first ship from Neatherland with Dutch men came at the cape with the intentions of farming, later in 1660 another ship with about 150 slaves arrived at the cape from kongo, these slaves were used for labour in the farms.

In 1662 Jan Van Riebeck laid down his office, they were about 39 Dutch farmers, in 1679 a new government was appointed by the Dutch east indies company by the name of Simon Van Stell in his administration he promoted more immigration of new families from Netherlands, this was for the purpose of farming.

There was also a flourish of pastoralism in the cape before the coming of the Dutch by the Khoikhoi. This also gave the Dutch more interest to settle and establish a refreshment centre for their sailors the cattle provided food for their refreshment centre and this was important. Apart from the Khoisan providing cattle by force, they also provided labour to the Dutch farmers and this was beneficial for the Dutch.

In summary before the period 1700 European countries never had reasons to come and establish settlement in Southern Africa, not until accidentally the Portuguese finding the trade post, refuelling station and the Dutch discovering the Cape of it being a good refreshment center for their ships. This opened up Southern Africa to ore discoveries such as the fertile soils of the cape and the rich minerals; these became important factors that made Europeans to settle in Southern Africa.

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