South Africa 1800-1875
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Missionary in 1800's
Colonization
Zulu Kingdom
Diamonds
Slavery
Military
Language & Art
Sports and Games
References
Home
History
Health and Diseases
Missionary Settlements
>
Missionary in 1800's
Colonization
Zulu Kingdom
Diamonds
Slavery
Military
Language & Art
Sports and Games
References
Diamonds
Discovery:
1867- Vaal River (edge of Cape Colony in South Africa)
December 1866- 1867
Erasmus Jacobs- 15 years old
Found diamonds on his father's farm- south bank of the Orange River
Illustrated History of South Africa: The Real Story" (1988) published by Reader's Digest Association of South Africa (page 91).
Outcome:
Triggered the "diamond rush"
Thousands of people all over the world came, turning the town of Kimberly into a population of 50,000 in five years
Blacks and Whites worked in four independent claims of land surrounding Kimberly. However, some wanted to consolidate the four into larger mines.
People:
Cecil Rhodes
- (arrived in 1870 at age 16) gained control over most of diamond mines through his De Beers Consolidated Compan
Barney Barnato
- (arrived in 1873 at age 21) helped set up the Barnato Diamond Mining Company
Alfred Beit
- (arrived in 1875) co-founder of the De Beers Consolidated Company