Africa
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Bantu settlers from the north and west arrived in Mozambique some 2000 years ago, founding the great Mwenemutapa Empire. By about 900 AD trading links had been forged with India, Persia, China and above all the Arab world, with gold being the major lure for merchants. It was this precious metal that first attracted the Portuguese to Mozambique: Vasco de Gama landed here on his way to India in 1498. Portuguese trading posts were then established along the coast, challenging Arab domination of the region.
By the late 17th Century ivory had replaced gold as the main export and some 50 years later slaves became the major attraction. Mozambique at this time was governed from Portuguese India (Goa) until 1752 when it was brought under control from Lisbon.
In the early part of the 20th Century vast tracts of agricultural land were settled by incoming Portuguese and this white supremacy led to the growth of the independence movement and the founding of freedom organisations such as Frelimo. Independence was granted in 1975, after which a civil war broke out between government forces and Renamo. This conflict was resolved in 1992 and multi-party elections were held. Mozambique joined the Commonwealth in 1995 and is now a stable and peaceful country.
