HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY - Madagascar - page 673

Appendix 1

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY

AD 0 Approximate date for the first significant settlement of the island.
800-900 Dates of the first identifiable village sites in the north of the island. Penetration

of the interior begins in the south.
1200 Establishment of Arab settlements. First mosques built.
1500 'Discovery' of Madagascar by the Portuguese Diego Dias. Unsuccessful at-
tempts to establish permanent European bases on the island followed.
1650s Emergence of Sakalava kingdoms.
Early
1700s

Eastern Madagascar is increasingly used as a base by pirates.

1716 Fénérive captured by Ratsimilaho. The beginnings of the Betsimisaraka confed-
eracy.
1750 Death of Ratsimilaho.
1787 The future Andrianampoinimerina declared King of Ambohimanga.
1795/96 Andrianampoinimerina established his capital at Antananarivo.
1810-28 Reign of Radama I, Merina king.
1818 First mission school opened in Tamatave (Toamasina).
1820 First mission school opened in Antananarivo.
1828-61 Reign of Ranavalona I, Merina queen.
1835 Publication of the Bible in Malagasy, but profession of the Christian faith de-

clared illegal.
1836 Most Europeans and missionaries leave the island.
1861-63 Reign of Radama II, Merina king.
1861

Missionaries re-admitted. Freedom of religion proclaimed.