PDF From Madagascar to the Malagasy Republic Download
- Author: Raymond K. Kent
- Publisher: Greenwood
- ISBN:
- Category : Ethnology
- Languages : en
- Pages : 200
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Madagascar, widely known as the "Great Island," is just off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, but in many ways it hardly resembles its mainland neighbors. Its flora and fauna are quite distinct, and the folkways and culture of its population are intriguingly different from that of the continental countries. This revised and expanded edition fills us in on the changes that have occurred over the past decade while still covering the long and intricate history of the country. It starts with the earliest settlers, continues through the period of French colonial rule, and then describes more intensively the period of independence, with all its aspirations, failures, and renewed hopes. This is done in a broad introduction, an extensive chronology, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, places, and events; ethnic groups and religions; and economic, social, and cultural aspects. Also included is a bibliography offering further reading.
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. It is a unique blend of Asia and African culture. Although close to the East Coast of Africa, Madagascar came to be inhabited by sea-faring peoples from present day Indonesia. Although so close to the east coast of Africa where traces of human existence go back hundreds of thousands years, Madagascar was uninhabited until about two thousand years ago. How it came to be inhabited by sea-faring peoples from present day Indonesia is just one of the many fascinating aspects of this book. The History of Madagascar examines the origins of Malagasy, the early context with Europeans and the struggle for influence in the nineteenth century between the British and the French. It also covers the Colonial period from 1896 to 1960, the recovery of independence and subsequent history up to the early 1990's. A highly readable, entertaining introduction to the history, politics and people of Madagascar.
An ideal sourcebook for practical information for travelers and an in-depth background to island culture and wildlife in Africa's Madagascar.