History
Ethnic Groups
Even today, descendants of the San, who settled the southern part of the African continent around 2,000 years ago, still live in present-day Botswana. However, many of the San were displaced by the Khoi-Khoi, who arrived in the region in the second century and lived there as pastoralists. From the third century onwards, Bantu tribes followed. In the northeast of the country, the Shona settled, while in the southeast, the Tswana and Kgalagadi peoples established themselves. The north of the country was inhabited by tribes that migrated from Central Africa. It was not until around the year 1500 that a new wave of settlement occurred. With this, many members of the Tswana tribes settled in the region. Several kingdoms were founded from these tribes, so that the Tswana came to dominate large parts of the country.
Colonial Era
After 1841, many European explorers and missionaries arrived in the country. In 1885, it was finally declared a British protectorate and later a crown colony under the name British Bechuanaland. The chiefs of the various ethnic groups were subordinate to the British. The British tried to interfere as little as possible in the affairs of the tribes. After white settlers predominantly settled in the east of the crown colony, they were favored by the British, while the indigenous population was displaced into reserves. In 1895, the territory was temporarily annexed to South Africa.
Independence
In 1961, the first political parties were formed in the country as residents gained limited autonomy under the British crown colony. However, it was not until 30 September 1966 that the country achieved full independence from Britain. With independence, the country was also renamed from British Bechuanaland to Botswana. In 1976, the country introduced its own currency. For a long time, however, Botswana remained dependent on South Africa, both in terms of transport (due to the lack of access to the sea) and economically. Politically, the Republic of Botswana nevertheless achieved stability, which persisted even after a severe economic crisis in the 1990s.
