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The pre-history of Naminia is not well understood because there is little archeological evidence and the first written evidence only comes with the Europeans. Presumbably different humanoid species migrated into the region, but left little evidence. The Europeans encountered several African peoples or tribes. The best known are the San people, known as Bushmen. They are the earliest known modern human inhabitants of Namibia and the rest of southern Africa, including Botswana and South Africa. They are believed to have inhabited the region for much of th neolithic era. The San were hunter and gatherers leading a nomadic life wjich left little archeological evidence. They lived on fruits, nuts and roots, but hunted small animals and antelopes. Over more advanced ethnic groups arrived and began displacing the San from large areas of southern Africa (about the 1st century AD). This included th Ovambo and Kavango, and Khoisan peoples. The stark Namib Desert appeard to have defelected Bantu southerly migration to the east. The final group were the Oorians (armed Koisans and other non-whites) and Basters (mulatoes). The only hint of the regions history before the arrival of the Europeans is found in the oral tradition of th various African peoples. This occured mich later in Namibia than in other Aftican areas, largely because the arid offered few enducemebts. European settlment begab very late (early-19th century). This is about the same time that Oorlams (the population descended from the mixture of Malay slaves, Khoi-San, Dutch, and English)crossed the Orange River pressed by the Afrikaaners with horses and guns. These made them he most powerful group in what is now Namibia. They tended substantial herds cattle and goats on land taken from Bantu peoples (the Nama and Herero). The relationship is not well understood. Oral history suugesta a kind of Wild West with cattle raiding, ambushes, drinking, smoking marihuana. orses were needed to tend cattle on wide open landscapes like the Aamerican West. The first Europeans north of the Orange River were missionaries who pursued a 'guns for converts' efforts. The Oorlams maintained trafe links with the Cape Colony and the Afrikaaners. They established a kind of capital at Windhoek, first called Winterhoek. It was the Germans who colonized Naminia, calling in Southwest Africa (1880s), this essentually set off the Scrable for Africa. The Europeans at the Berlin Conference began dividing up Africa and settling conflicting claims (1883). The Germans as newly united and late comers to Africa wound up with scattere fragments and this arid regions that other Europeans saw of little interest. A small detachment of German troops led by Curt Von FranJoise landed at Walvis Bay reportedly desguised as tourists (1889). Walvis Bay at the time was controlled by the British. So the Grmans seized control of Winterhoek and claimed all of Southwest Africa except Walvis Bay. This was a huge area and the German presence was not large nough to ocupy it all. They commited what is today known as the Herero Genocide. Some 60,000 Hereros and related people were kille out of a total population of some 80,000 people. South Africa occupied the Germn colony as a result of World War I and after the War administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory. After the War, South African without international sanction occupied the country. Namibia achieved independence (1990).
The pre-history of Naminia is not well understood because there is little archeological evidence and the first written evidence only comes with the Europeans. Presumbably different humanoid species migrated into the region, but left little evidence.
The Europeans encountered several African peoples or tribes. The best known are the San people, known as Bushmen. They are the earliest known modern human inhabitants of Namibia and the rest of southern Africa, including Botswana and South Africa. They are believed to have inhabited the region for much of th neolithic era. The San were hunter and gatherers leading a nomadic life wjich left little archeological evidence. They lived on fruits, nuts and roots, but hunted small animals and antelopes. Over more advanced ethnic groups arrived and began displacing the San from large areas of southern Africa (about the 1st century AD). This included th Ovambo and Kavango, and Khoisan peoples. The final group were the Oorians (armed Koisans and other non-whites) and Basters (mulatoes).
The only hint of the regions history before the arrival of the Europeans is found in the oral tradition of the various African peoples.
Europoeans arrived in Southwest Africa much later in Namibia than in other Aftican areas, largely because the arid offered few enducemebts. European settlment begab very late (early-19th century). This is about the same time that Oorlams (the population descended from the mixture of Malay slaves, Khoi-San, Dutch, and English)crossed the Orange River pressed by the Afrikaaners with horses and guns. These made them he most powerful group in what is now Namibia. They tended substantial herds cattle and goats on land taken from Bantu peoples (the Nama and Herero). The relationship is not well understood. Oral history suggests a kind of Wild West with cattle raiding, ambushes, drinking, and smoking marihuana. Horses were needed to tend cattle on wide open landscapes like the Aamerican West. The first Europeans north of the Orange River were missionaries who pursued a 'guns for converts' efforts. The Oorlams maintained trafe links with the Cape Colony and the Afrikaaners. They established a kind of capital at Windhoek, first called Winterhoek.
It was the Germans who colonized Naminia, calling in Southwest Africa (1880s), this essentually set off the Scrable for Africa. The Europeans at the Berlin Conference began dividing up Africa and settling conflicting claims (1883). The Germans as newly united and late comers to Africa wound up with scattere fragments and this arid regions that other Europeans saw of little interest. A small detachment of German troops led by Curt Von FranJoise landed at Walvis Bay reportedly desguised as tourists (1889). Walvis Bay at the time was controlled by he British. So the Grmans seized control of Winterhoek and claimed all of Southwest Africa except Walvis Bay. This was a huge area and the German presence was not large nough to ocupy it all. They commited what is today known as the Herero Genocide. Some 60,000 Hereros and related people were killed out of a total population of some 80,000 people.
World War I came as a surprise to most Europeans. It was not a foregone conclusion that Britain wound eter the War. The German invasion of Belgium settled the issue. Africa was an area where Germany anbd Britain had a common border. And Dominion/Colonal officials were perhaps more aware of the potential for conflict than the Bitish Governmnt. And unlike the German Army on the conntinent, the Royal Navy put the German colonial armies at a serious disadvantage. Immediately after the German invasion of Belgium and British declaation of war (August 1914) Prime Minister Louis Botha informed the British Government that South Africa could and would defend itself. Because of the Boer War (1899-1902), there were more substantial Imperial forcs in South africa than was the case for most othr Dominions. Botha advised the British Government that the Imperial Garrison could safely be redeployed in France. Southwest Africa had the largest German population of all the country's colonies. Even so tge European population in South Arica was much greater. The British Government then asked Botha if his forces could invade German South-West Africa. Botha replied that that they could and would. South Africa mobilised troops along the northwestern border with Southwest Africa (Septenbr 1914). General Henry Lukin and Lt Col Manie Maritz were placed in command. The first major action was seizing the port of Lüderitz in southern Southwest Africa. The Germans had supported the Boers during the Boer War. As a result there was sympathy among the South African Boer population for the Germans. This was probably more anti-British than pro-German sentiment. A largely South African force invaded and seized the colony (1915). The military action was completed much more quickly than the comparable action in German East Africa. After World War I in the Versailles Peace Treaty, Southwest Africa became a League of Nations Mandate to be administered by South Africa (1919).
Souh Africaadministered Siutheast Africa as a League of Nations mandate territory. After the War, South African without international sanction occupied the country.
A United Nations of peace keeoing force of more thn 5,000 soldiers and civilians was sent o Namibia to ease the independence process which had been delayed by the situatin in Angola. The Secretry General's Special Representative for Namibia oversaw the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG). Theur assignmebt was to implement the Namimbiam independence plan. This provided for 1) demilitsrization, 2) abolition of descrimnnatiry abd restriuctive laws, and 3) free and fair electiins for a constiuent assembly. The aprovsl for the UNTAG operation was given by the Security Counci (Februry 16, 1989). It was based on Securiuty Council Resolution 435 of 1978, shiwing how long indeoence had been delayed. Namibia successfuly achieved independence (1990).
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