The Malagasy origins

The origin of Malagasy

Madagascar is not inhabited before the VII century; at least there is not the evidence. The Malagasy are therefore indeed. The ancestors of the current Malagasy came from Africa and Asia, specifically East Africa and Indonesia. As soon as the VII century Indonesian husbands were in the Malay Archipelago, South of the India and the Maldives Islands. It was primarily traders; they sailed along the coast on canoes, guided by the stars and drifted, so they were able to discover Madagascar. On these ships, there were also black, African servants but perhaps also the India of the South. They have approached the coast by the North of the island, and then capotes the coast is, and then would be up to the Highlands.

Installation of ethnic groups

There is little by little to the installation of different Arabe, probably Indonesian groups who settled in the southern tip of the island (Fort-Dauphin region) and giving birth to several ethnic groups to the XVI century. They colonize also the East Coast, and including the Valley of the Matintanana, little by little they date back to the West and trays.

First European incursions

As early as the 17TH century European travelers describe what they found on the island. Society was divided into two groups, whites (Fotsy) and blacks (Mainty). Each of these groups had its own hierarchy, the Fotsy were descendants of the Zafindraminia (Indonesia) and the Aboriginal clans Mainty. They were installed in the country of Malagasy (hence Madagascar has come) region of Fort-Dauphin. These Madécasses were the first to have relations with the West in the XVI and XVII centuries. Diego Diaz, Captain Portuguese diverted after the Cape of Good Hope discovered Madagascar and called it the island St. Lawrence. It was followed by Portuguese traders and missionaries, relations were strained, and they were not able to convert people to Christianity. Thus they abandoned their projects on the island. In the 18th century of the adventurers of all origins (Dutch, French, and English) made the slave trade resold in Mauritius and in the plantations of the Caribbean. The balance of the island was disturbed at the time.

The Company des Indes Orientales

 In 1628 the French try to settle, in 1642, two traders and twelve settlers under the authority of the sieur Pronis are also trying to trade in the region, but the difficulties and clashes with the natives had reason of their goodwill. Etienne de Flacourt, new Governor arrived in 1648, he tried without achieve to win the confidence of local leaders. He had runners of Bush speaking the Malagasy who brought information about the climate, landforms, plants, animals, etc. He left especially invaluable book called history of the great island of Madagascar which is used for historical studies. Successors were less curious and always encountered the natives and the colonization of the South of the island project was abandoned at the end of the 17TH century.

Posted in: Travel in Madagascar