British colonization of South Africa

African territories. This expansion created growing tensions with African kingdoms already living there including the Zulu.

The Arrival of the Boers

Not all European settlers were British. Dutch-descended settlers known as: Boers or Voortrekkers also moved inland searching for land and independence from British rule. These migrations became known as: The Great Trek. The Boers established settlements across southern Africa, often entering territories occupied by African communities and this increased conflict throughout the region. African kingdoms now faced pressure from: expanding European settlements, land disputes firearms, trade competition and political alliances shifting rapidly. Southern Africa was becoming more unstable.

The Discovery of Valuable Resources

As Europeans explored southern Africa further, discoveries of: diamonds, gold, fertile lands made colonial competition even more intense. Southern Africa was no longer seen merely as a stopping point for ships. It became one of the most valuable regions on the continent. And powerful empires were willing to fight for it.