| Madagascar, also widely known as the Republic of | | | | Most notably these were the Sakalava and the |
| Madagascar, is an island in the Indian Ocean found | | | | Boina. Madagascar then gradually became a crucial |
| off the south-eastern coast of Africa. Madagascar | | | | trading port for the East African Coast, which |
| boasts to be the fourth largest island in the world | | | | opened up a Silk Trade route for Africa. |
| and is as well the dwelling place for around 5 | | | | Madagascar in addition to, served as port for |
| percent of the world’s plants and animals. | | | | many incoming and outgoing vessels. |
| Most of the animal and plant species found in | | | | Furthermore, trading in Madagascar brought health |
| Madagascar are endemic to the island. Animals | | | | to the country. A state controlled by authoritative |
| such as lemur and fossa along with the six | | | | emperors was consequently created in |
| different kinds of Baobab trees found in | | | | Madagascar. This state was known as the |
| Madagascar give this country its uniqueness. | | | | Maroserna. Later on, these rulers adopted the |
| Millions of years before, when the Earth was still | | | | various traditions and cultures. This enabled them |
| ‘new’, Madagascar formed one with | | | | to extend their empires onto other parts of |
| Africa. It’s now been approximately 160 | | | | Madagascar. Trading remained a top of the list |
| million years since Madagascar got separated | | | | business in Madagascar at that time as it brought |
| from Africa. People started to occupy the island | | | | a strict amount of money to these emperors. It |
| between 200 and 500 AD. These were mainly | | | | was not later than the year 1500 when |
| sea travelers coming mainly from Southeast Asia. | | | | Madagascar started to receive visits from Europe. |
| Other people named Bantu came to settle in | | | | So, in the year 1500, Portuguese sea captain, |
| Madagascar after having crossed the Mozambique | | | | Diogo Dias landed on Madagascar when his ship |
| Channel. People from Somalia as well came to live | | | | was separated from the fleet moving towards |
| in Southern Madagascar in the Middle Ages as | | | | India. From this day, the Portuguese contact |
| they established a kingdom for themselves there. | | | | retained and began trading with the natives of |
| Moreover, in the 7th century, Muslims started to | | | | Madagascar. They even named the island as St. |
| trade along the Northwestern coast of | | | | Lawrence (São Lourenço). During the year |
| Madagascar. Trading started to become the | | | | 1666, the French East India Company traveled to |
| source of revenue for kings as they engaged | | | | Madagascar where they could not create a |
| themselves in making business with neighbouring | | | | colony. On the other hand, they were successful |
| countries in the Indian Ocean. Arab and Somali | | | | in building ports on nearby islands namely Mauritius |
| traders among others also linked Madagascar to | | | | and Reunion. The 17th century then saw the |
| countries such as India and Africa. As time passed | | | | French set up trading placements along the east |
| by, numerous kingdoms were born in Madagascar. | | | | coast of Madagascar. |