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An open record of South African history.
Explore a wide-ranging chronology of the people and events that shaped South Africa. Striving to display the facts as transparently as possible.
- 332
- Timeline entries
- 192
- Source records
- 1480-present
- Years covered
One period, several histories
Events make more sense when their timelines meet.
Between 1834 and 1838, frontier warfare, migration, African state power and competing settlement claims unfolded at the same time. The explorer keeps those connected histories in view.
Compare this period in the timelineA connected period
1834–1838
- Military conflict
Sixth Frontier War
After years of land pressure, cattle disputes, raids and frontier patrols, Xhosa forces attacked colonial farms in December 1834; the British counter-invasion devastated Xhosa livelihoods and briefly annexed territory to the Kei River.
Xhosa · British / imperial
- Settlement or founding
The Great Trek
Thousands of Dutch-speaking colonists left the Cape in several streams, seeking political autonomy and moving into regions occupied or claimed by African communities and polities.
Zulu · Sotho–Tswana · Cape Settler / Boer / Afrikaner +1
- Military conflict
Battle of Vegkop
Mzilikazi's Ndebele army attacked Hendrik Potgieter's defended Voortrekker camp at Vegkop; the trekkers held the laager but lost nearly all their livestock and depended on neighbouring African allies for relief.
Zulu · Cape Settler / Boer / Afrikaner
- Territorial change
Retief–Dingane deed and the killing of Retief's party
Dingane reportedly agreed to grant the Voortrekkers land if Retief recovered stolen Zulu cattle. Retief fulfilled that condition and a deed was reportedly signed, but two days later Dingane ordered the unarmed delegation killed at uMgungundlovu.
Zulu · Cape Settler / Boer / Afrikaner
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Before 1800
Early contact & the Cape
Maritime contact, Khoekhoe trade, the VOC settlement and the first colonial frontiers.
Explore period1800–1902Kingdoms, migrations & frontiers
African state-building, the Great Trek, frontier wars, mineral discoveries and republics.
Explore period1902–1994Union, segregation & apartheid
The making of the Union, political movements, apartheid and the struggle for democracy.
Explore periodSince 1994Democratic South Africa
Elections, institutions, social change, public crises and the continuing land question.
Explore periodSources and uncertainty stay part of the story.
Entries distinguish established chronology from contested motives, disputed accounts and later interpretation. The method is visible so readers can judge the evidence for themselves.