Tanzania’s History.
Pre-independence.
Tanzania’s coastlines along Zanzibar and Pemba have been the best 2 places where most foreign traders settled along the shores thousands of years ago.
About Tanzania’s pre-history, little is known, with only important archaeological early findings found in Olduvai Gorge. Initially, though “Tanganyika” was known before formal unification was largely not explored by foreigners until 1700s with its 2 islands.
The Arab traders were the first to set up trading posts along the coast as far back as 1st AD century with limited relationships and intrusion between the Swahili and Arab neighbours.
Vasco da gama.
The arrival of Vasco da gama on Zanzibar coast in 14999. The Portuguese over the last 200 years established their own trade posts and probably dominating the routes of East Africa’s coast lines.
Until late 1700s, Europeans made attempts to penetrate the hinterlands of Tanganyika. The emerging of slave trade excitement raised Portuguese, Arab and French hopes of plundering Tanganyika about the economic possibilities. The ripping out of Ivory and Slave resources started soon since the initial traders’ fears soon shrugged off.
Arrival of Sultan of Osman.
The coming of the Sultan meant that all trading and transport develop while the coast and its shore inland became huge international trading posts for slaves, ivory and spices. The rivalries amidst of 17th and 18th Century, European Mercantile, colonial expansion and maritime.
Zanzibar became a strategic position and an attractive trading post by 1840, since it was located along the major trading routes of the world and it became a major trading hub by 1840. This prompted Pmani Sultan to move his Court to the island, to be a head of French Portuguese and the arriving British.
Zanzibar was placed under the control of the British. In 1890 after the British 50 year political and maritime dealing and wheeling ensued.
This was after Britain had already colonized Uganda and Kenya to the North.
Right across Africa, this non-stop drawing and rewarding of colonial boundaries was in place with no realistic knowledge of the social, political and geographical organizations of local population.
The Europeans scrambled for Africa due to territorial ambitions, political rivalry and commercial purpose. This led to the 11884-85 formal partition of the continent in Berlin Conference, pushing their way into the heart of African countries. The German explorers came back at the Tanganyika main land.
The most common being Stanley and Livingstone, who met on Lake Tanganyika at the place called Ujiji. Dr. Livingstone, I presume”, was the phrases of British.
The Germans were more determined to continue with slave trade though it was outlawed in late 1870s. They colonized the main island in 1891 after negotiations with British in terms of trade-offs starings.
Final independence.
A decade of infrastructural development was under taken with intensified trade. This was under the direct rule by the Germans. This was until the outbreak of 1914 war.
The League of Nations mandated back Tanzania to the British despite General Von Lethow-Vorbeck efforts to maintain German control over East Africa.
Britain controlled Zanzibar and Tanganyika as part of post war settlement preparations. Until their independence respectively, when Tanganyika, Zanzibar and Pemba united in 1961 and 1963, forming the day Tanzania.
Day Tanzania.
In 1961, Tanzania got its independence with limited infrastructure and under developed economy. With the growing of sisal as a major crop under the Germans, which could not develop the economy.
This was followed by a 40-year British rule. The British could not develop the economy heavily in terms of roads and communication, since they thought that Tanzania could at anytime declare independence since it was a mandate colony.
First President.
In 1950’s, the Tanzania’s nationalistic Movement was formed due to the rise of nationalism in Tanzania. This was aimed to give people anything that belonged to them. By early 1960’s, shared sense of optimism, anger and talks of independence, spread like a bush fire all over Africa.
In 1961, Julius Nyerere (radical socialist) became the First president of Tanzania, after a peaceful transition to independence was made by the British.
Villagization.
Upon coming to power, Nyerere redistributed social, political and economic reforms amongst the people of Tanzania.
Among them include forced Villagisation into communal villages from rural population, high yield seed promotion, modern irrigation schemes as well as nationalisation of the economy.
Tanzania enjoyed for the first few years of independence, economic growth and freedom. For the first time in 450 years when the Portuguese first settled in their country.
Economic decline.
A number of schemes failed due to lack of sustained investments, resentment and corruption by the locals, despite funding projects from the China like the TAZARA Railway.
Nyerere had his work cut out of him when economic decline reached at its peak, long drought of 1 year, economic instabilities, oil crises.
Despite financial support from guerrilla independence movements in Angola, Uganda, Rhodesia, Seychelles and Comoros (Motivated ideologically), Tanzania’s financial status remained worst.
After 20 years of socialist rule, Nyerere had his best intentions (and 2.7 billion incredible foreign Aid between 1971-1981).
He stepped down as President in 1985 after taking Zanzibar (Once Africa’s richest countries), when Tanzania was bankrupt.
Re-building the economy.
With the help of World Bank and IMF, as well as the successors of Nyerere, they accepted to modernize the economy such as agricultural reforms being extended to the local people, which employs 80%, of which it accounts for ½ GDP of the country and provides 85% of exports.
Tanzania was rebuilt in the line of modern capitalism. Industries have increased such as gas and oil exploitations, gold extractions and other minerals.