History of Tanzania facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The modern country of Tanzania was officially formed in 1964. It was created when two separate areas joined together: the larger mainland territory called Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar.

Tanganyika was once a colony of Germany from the 1880s until 1919. After World War I, it became a territory managed by Britain under the League of Nations. During World War II, Tanganyika helped Britain by providing money, weapons, and soldiers. In 1947, it became a United Nations Trust Territory under British control until it gained independence in 1961.

Zanzibar was a busy trading center. Over time, it was controlled by the Portuguese, then the Sultanate of Oman, and finally became a British protectorate by the late 1800s.

Julius Nyerere, who led Tanganyika to independence, was known as "baba wa taifa" (meaning father of the nation). He governed the country for many years. Abeid Amaan Karume was the president of Zanzibar and also the Vice President of the new United Republic of Tanzania. After Nyerere retired in 1985, the country started to make political and economic changes. Ali Hassan Mwinyi became the next president.

Tanzania's Ancient Past

Early Stone Age Discoveries

Olduvai Gorge, often called "The Cradle of Mankind."

Louis and Mary Leakey, famous archaeologists.

Tanzania is a very important place for understanding early human history. Scientists called archaeologists have found some of the oldest human settlements here. In northern Tanzania, a place called Olduvai Gorge is often called "The Cradle of Mankind." This is because many ancient stone tools and fossils of early humans have been found there.

In 1931, Louis Leakey discovered Acheulian stone tools at Olduvai Gorge. He also found even older, simpler stone tools. These were the first examples of the oldest human technology found in Africa. They became known as Oldowan tools, named after Olduvai Gorge.

Later, in 1959, Mary Leakey found the first skull of an early human in Olduvai Gorge. It was named Zinj or Nutcracker Man and is believed to be over 1.8 million years old. Other important finds, like Homo habilis fossils, were also made.

At a nearby site called Laetoli, Mary Leakey discovered the oldest known human footprints in 1978. These footprints are about 3.6 million years old and were likely made by Australopithecus afarensis. The oldest early human fossils in Tanzania also come from Laetoli.

Middle Stone Age Times

Mumba Cave in northern Tanzania shows evidence of the Middle Stone Age (MSA). This period in Africa is important because many archaeologists believe it's when modern human behaviors first started to appear.

Later Stone Age and Early Farmers

About 10,000 years ago, during the Later Stone Age, Tanzania was likely home to hunter-gatherer groups. These people probably spoke Khoisan languages.

Between 4,000 and 3,000 years ago, during a time called the Pastoral Neolithic, groups of people who raised cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys arrived in Tanzania from the north. They brought new ways of life to the region.

Iron Age Changes

Around 2,000 years ago, Bantu-speaking people started arriving from western Africa. They came in waves of migration, known as the Bantu expansion. These groups brought important skills like ironworking, farming, and new ways of organizing society. They blended with many of the people already living there. Later, Nilotic herders also arrived and continued to move into the area until the 1700s.

One of Tanzania's most important Iron Age sites is Engaruka. It's in the Great Rift Valley and shows an ancient system for irrigation and farming.

Early Coastal History

For a very long time, travelers and traders from places like the Persian Gulf and Western India visited the East African coast. Ancient Greek writings mention market towns along the coast. Roman coins found here confirm that trade was happening.

The towns along the coast grew from local African roots, not from foreign settlements. The language spoken there, Swahili (which is now Tanzania's national language), is a Bantu language that developed before many Arabs arrived. By the year 1000 CE, Swahili towns were thriving. They connected people from inland Africa with traders across the Indian Ocean.

From about 1200 to 1500 CE, the town of Kilwa, on Tanzania's southern coast, was very rich and powerful. Some historians call this the "golden age" of Swahili civilization. In the early 1300s, a traveler named Ibn Battuta visited Kilwa and said it was one of the best cities in the world. The religion of Islam was practiced on the Swahili coast as early as the 700s or 800s CE.

In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was the first known European to reach this coast. In 1505, the Portuguese took control of Zanzibar. They ruled until the early 1700s, when Arabs from Oman gained power in the region. With the help of Omani Arabs, local people pushed the Portuguese out by the early 1700s.

The Omani Sultan Seyyid Said moved his capital to Zanzibar City in 1840. He focused on developing trade routes that reached far into Africa. During this time, Zanzibar became a major center for the Indian Ocean slave trade. However, the British worked to end this trade, signing treaties with Sultan Said from 1822 onwards. The sale of slaves was finally stopped in 1876.

Tanganyika Before German Rule (1850–1890)

The name "Tanganyika" as a specific area didn't exist until after 1920. Before that, this region was part of the Great Lakes area. Many small kingdoms existed, like Karagwe and Buzinza, which were influenced by stronger neighbors like Rwanda and Burundi.

European explorers began to explore the interior in the mid-1800s. In 1848, the German missionary Johannes Rebmann was the first European to see Mount Kilimanjaro. British explorers Richard Burton and John Speke traveled across the land to Lake Tanganyika in 1857.

In 1866, the Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone came to Zanzibar. He was trying to find the source of the Nile River and set up his last mission at Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika. After losing contact with the outside world for years, he was "found" there on November 10, 1871, by Henry Morton Stanley. Stanley, a journalist, famously greeted him with, "Dr Livingstone, I presume?"

German colonial interests began to grow in 1884. Karl Peters formed a group called the Society for German Colonization. He made agreements with local chiefs, who gave land to his society. In 1885, the German government officially supported Peters's German East Africa Company.

At the Berlin Conference of 1885, European powers set rules for how they would claim colonies in Africa. Britain and Germany focused on East Africa. In 1886, they divided continental East Africa between themselves. Zanzibar and Pemba islands remained independent for a while.

German East Africa

The Germans established a system of direct rule in their colony, which they called German East Africa. German officials controlled all parts of the government. A governor was in charge, making laws and leading the military. District officers managed smaller areas, collecting taxes and commanding local police. In fertile areas, Germans often forced local people off their land to develop it for themselves.

The Germans were very strict and did not respect local traditions. While they brought new crops, railroads, and roads, their rule also caused Africans to resist. From 1891 to 1894, the Hehe, led by Chief Mkwawa, fought against German expansion but were eventually defeated. Mkwawa died in 1898 after a period of guerrilla warfare.

Maji Maji Resistance

People were very unhappy with German rule. In 1902, a movement against forced labor for cotton farming began along the Rufiji River. The tension exploded in July 1905 when the Matumbi people revolted. This rebellion quickly spread across a large part of southern German East Africa.

This resistance became known as the Maji Maji Resistance of 1905–1907. It temporarily united several southern tribes. The rebellion ended after an estimated 300,000 Africans died from fighting or starvation.

The Germans had been in the area since 1897 and had changed many parts of daily life. Missionaries, who were actively supported by the Germans, tried to destroy local beliefs. They tore down 'mahoka' huts where people worshiped their ancestors and made fun of their ceremonies. This caused deep resentment. The first battle in September 1905 quickly turned into a brutal war. This was the bloodiest rebellion in German East Africa.

World War I in East Africa

The Battle of Tanga during World War I.

Before World War I started in 1914, German East Africa was ready to defend itself. For the first year of the war, the Germans were strong enough to attack neighboring British territories. The German forces were led by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck.

The geography of German East Africa made it hard for British and Allied forces to attack. The coastline had few good landing spots and was backed by unhealthy swamps. The lakes and mountains in the west were difficult to cross.

Germany began fighting in 1914 by attacking the town of Tanga. The British attacked Tanga in November 1914 but were defeated by General Von Lettow-Vorbeck's forces at the Battle of Tanga. The British navy took Mafia Island in January 1915.

British forces from the northeast and southwest, and Belgian forces from the northwest, steadily attacked German forces starting in January 1916. By October 1916, the Germans had lost most of their valuable territory.

Cut off from Germany, General Von Lettow-Vorbeck fought a guerrilla campaign throughout 1917, living off the land. In December, his remaining German forces left the colony and crossed into Portuguese Mozambique. In November 1918, his remaining force surrendered.

After the war, under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany lost all its overseas colonies, including German East Africa. Many soldiers died on both sides.

The war badly damaged the education system in German East Africa. Germany had actually developed a good education program for Africans, with elementary, secondary, and vocational schools. However, by 1920, the British education budget was very small, and it took time for education to reach the standards it had before the war.

British Rule After World War I

In 1919, the population of Tanganyika was estimated at 3.5 million people.

The first British civilian administrator after World War I was Sir Horace Archer Byatt. He was appointed in January 1919. The colony was renamed Tanganyika Territory in January 1920.

Britain and Belgium signed an agreement in 1924 about the border between Tanganyika and Ruanda-Urundi.

Tanganyika continued to be managed under a mandate until it became a United Nations Trust Territory in 1946.

British Rule Through Local Leaders

Governor Byatt tried to bring back some African traditions by allowing limited local rule. He allowed political groups to form, like the Tanganyika Territory African Civil Service Association in 1922. This group later became the Tanganyika African Association in 1929 and was important for the independence movement.

Sir Donald Cameron became governor in 1925. He was known for trying to establish "Indirect Rule." This meant governing through existing traditional African leaders.

In 1926, a Legislative Council was created. It had members who advised the governor. In 1945, the first Africans were appointed to this council. Julius Nyerere became a member in 1954.

Railway Growth

In 1928, the railway line from Tabora to Mwanza was opened. The line from Moshi to Arusha opened in 1930.

Health and Education Efforts

Under British rule, efforts were made to fight diseases like sleeping sickness (carried by the Tsetse fly), malaria, and bilharziasis. More hospitals were built.

In 1926, the colonial government started giving money to schools run by missionaries. They also set rules for these schools. However, in 1935, the education budget for the entire country was still quite small.

World War II and Tanganyika

Two days after Nazi Germany invaded Poland, the United Kingdom declared war. British forces in Tanganyika were ordered to intern (detain) German men living there. The British government feared these citizens might help the Axis forces. Some Germans in Dar es Salaam tried to flee but were stopped.

During the war, about 100,000 people from Tanganyika joined the Allied forces. They fought in units like the King's African Rifles. They fought in the East African Campaign against the Italians, in Madagascar against the French, and in Burma against the Japanese. Tanganyika became an important source of food, and its export income greatly increased. However, the war also caused inflation (prices going up) in the country.

Steps Towards Independence

In 1947, Tanganyika became a United Nations Trust Territory under British control. This meant the British felt more pressure to help the country move towards self-governance.

A stamp from British East Africa with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Many Different People

In 1957, only 15 towns had more than 5,000 people. The capital, Dar es Salaam, had the most people, with about 128,742. Tanganyika had many different racial groups, which made it unique. In 1957, there were about 123,310 non-Africans, including Asians, Arabs, Somalis, and Europeans.

Many Africans worked for the government, businesses, or as laborers. They also grew important crops to sell. But most Africans were subsistence farmers, meaning they grew just enough food to survive. Their living conditions were generally poor. Asians and Arabs were often traders. White people were missionaries, professionals, government workers, and owners of farms, plantations, and mines. White-owned farms were very important for producing crops to export.

Farming Cooperatives Started

Britain, through its colonial officer David Gordon Hines, encouraged farmers to form co-operatives. This helped farmers who grew just enough to survive to start growing crops to sell. Before, they often sold their produce to Indian traders at low prices. By the early 1950s, there were over 400 co-operatives across the country. These co-operatives helped build facilities like cotton gins and coffee factories. The Moshi coffee auctions became a big success, attracting international buyers.

UN Trust Territory and Nationalism

After Tanganyika became a UN trust territory, the British felt more pressure to help the country progress politically. The UN sent missions to Tanganyika, and many Africans spoke to the UN about their concerns. These efforts helped push Tanganyika towards independence.

African nationalism grew, especially around the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). This political organization was formed in 1954 by Julius Nyerere. TANU won elections in 1958, 1959, and 1960. Nyerere became chief minister after the 1960 election. Tanganyika gained internal self-government on May 1, 1961, and full independence on December 9, 1961.

Zanzibar's Story

Location of Zanzibar within Tanzania.

Today, Zanzibar refers to the island of Unguja and the nearby island of Pemba. Both islands were under Portuguese rule in the 1500s and early 1600s. But Omani Arabs took them back in the early 1700s.

Arab rule reached its peak during the time of Sultan Seyyid Said. He moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar. He encouraged the growth of clove plantations, using enslaved labor from the mainland. Zanzibar and Pemba became famous for their spice trade and were known as the Spice Islands. In the early 1900s, they produced about 90% of the world's cloves.

Zanzibar was also a major stop for the slave trade between the African Great Lakes region and the Indian Ocean. Ships from as far away as the United States visited Zanzibar. The United Kingdom became interested in Zanzibar for trade and to stop the slave trade. In 1822, the British signed the first of several treaties with Sultan Said to reduce the slave trade. However, the sale of slaves was not fully prohibited until 1876.

The Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty of 1890 made Zanzibar and Pemba a British protectorate. This meant Britain protected and influenced the islands, but a Sultan still ruled. British rule through a Sultan continued until 1957, when elections were held for a council that advised the Sultan.

Independence and the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Julius Nyerere demanding political independence for Tanganyika in 1961.

In 1954, Julius Nyerere, a school teacher, started a political party called the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). On December 9, 1961, Tanganyika became an independent country. Nyerere became the Prime Minister. On December 9, 1962, Tanganyika became a republic, and Nyerere became its first president.

Zanzibar gained its independence from the United Kingdom on December 10, 1963. It was a constitutional monarchy ruled by its Sultan. However, on January 12, 1964, the African majority revolted against the Sultan. A new government was formed with Abeid Karume, the leader of the ASP party, as President of Zanzibar. In the first few days of this Zanzibar Revolution, thousands of Arabs and Indians were killed or fled.

Soon after, the Tanganyika army revolted. Julius Nyerere asked Britain to send troops to help. British Royal Marines were sent and helped disarm military outposts.

On April 26, 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. On October 29 of that year, the country was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania. The name "Tanzania" is a mix of "Tanganyika" and "Zanzibar." Under this union, the Zanzibar Government kept a lot of control over its local affairs.

Recent History

To create one strong ruling party, Julius Nyerere merged his TANU party with Zanzibar's ruling party, the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP). This new party, called the CCM (Revolutionary Party), was formed on February 5, 1977.

Nyerere believed that having many political parties in a country with hundreds of ethnic groups could threaten national unity. He wanted a one-party system to prevent tribalism from dividing the country. To further unity, Nyerere made Kiswahili the national language.

Nyerere introduced a policy called African socialism, or Ujamaa, which means 'family-hood'. His government wanted this philosophy to guide Tanzania's development. They tried to focus less on cities and more on rural areas for industrial growth.

The government's role in the economy grew very quickly. In 1967, many businesses were taken over by the state, making the government the largest employer. This led to a lot of bureaucracy and high taxes, which hurt the economy. Public money was often misused, and essential goods became hard to find. A system of permits allowed officials to take large bribes. This created a system of systemic corruption. Officials became known as Wabenzi ("people of the Benz"). By 1979, corruption was widespread as the economy struggled.

Nyerere's Tanzania had close relationships with China, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In 1979, Tanzania declared war on Uganda after Uganda invaded a northern Tanzanian province. Tanzania not only pushed Ugandan forces out but also invaded Uganda itself. On April 11, 1979, the Ugandan president Idi Amin was forced to leave the capital, Kampala, ending the war.

In October 1985, Nyerere stepped down as president and handed power to Ali Hassan Mwinyi. However, Nyerere remained chairman of the ruling CCM party until 1990.

In 1990, some groups in Zanzibar demanded a vote on independence, arguing that the union with mainland Tanzania, based on socialism, had made Zanzibar poorer. Their demands were not met.

In the 1995 multi-party election, the ruling party won, and Benjamin William Mkapa became the new president. However, elections in 2000 led to violence in Zanzibar in January 2001, where many people were killed or injured. In December 2005, Jakaya Kikwete was elected the fourth president.

One of the deadly 1998 U.S. embassy bombings happened in Dar Es Salaam. In 2004, an undersea earthquake caused tsunamis along Tanzania's coast, killing 11 people.

In 2015, after President Jakaya Kikwete's ten-year term, John Magufuli won the presidential election. In October 2020, President Magufuli was re-elected. The Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has been in power since independence in 1961, making it the longest-serving ruling party in Africa. Every president of Tanzania has been from this party.

On March 19, 2021, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan became the new president after President John Magufuli's sudden death. She is the first female President of Tanzania.

Recent Archaeological Discoveries

In February 2021, archaeologists from Jagiellonian University in Poland announced an exciting discovery. They found ancient rock art with human-like figures in good condition at the Amak’hee 4 rockshelter site in Swaga Swaga Game Reserve in Tanzania.

The paintings were made with a reddish dye and show buffalo heads, a giraffe head and neck, and domesticated cattle. They are thought to be several hundred years old. Scientists believe these paintings might show a ritual of the Sandawe people, even though their current religion doesn't involve buffaloes in this way.