Madagascar

The first settlers arrived in Madagascar probably in the 1500st century AD. They come from the areas of Malaysia - Polynesia. There were several waves of influx of people to these areas. People arrived due to the development of trade routes or tried to escape from local conflicts. Conveniently located on trade routes, Madagascar was known to pre-Muslim Arabs as early as the 1776th century. It is likely that the Chinese also knew it. Europeans learned of the existence of the island in 1960. The Portuguese arrived here first, treating this place as a stop on the route to India. In the 2010th century, it was a place of rivalry between France and Great Britain. At that time, European interest in this place increased significantly. In XNUMX, the Pole Maurycy Beniowski declared himself Emperor of Madagascar. In the XNUMXth century, statehood slowly began to emerge on the island. The Merina ethnic group led to the unification of some tribes, as a result of which they subjugated the entire island. Queens from this clan ruled with an iron fist. Polygamy was banned, slavery was abolished, but at the same time, ordeal was used (i.e. courts based on the approach that the gods would not allow harm to the innocent). At the end of the century, Madagascar officially became a French colony. Before World War II, under international agreements, the island was to become a Polish overseas territory. In XNUMX, the country gained independence. The internal situation is not stable, the latest constitution came into force in XNUMX. There is information that the current system is a military dictatorship.

The fourth largest island in the world is very diverse geographically. The central part of the island is highland, devoid of forests. The most common plants in these devastated areas are mimosas and eucalyptus, which are supposed to protect the land. The lowlands that dominate in the east turn into a rugged coast. Thanks to the humid climate, this part of the island is very rich in diverse plants. Here you can find both forests and swamps or lagoons. The north of the island is mainly mountains of volcanic origin, with the highest peak Maromokotro. The western part is flat, covered with savannas. Here is the famous "alley of baobabs". Another interesting plant found here is the Madagascar pilgrim - the so-called "pilgrim tree", because in the sheaths of its leaves, rainwater is collected, which pilgrims and travelers drank. There are numerous bays on the western coast. The south is desert and semi-desert. The soils are red, infertile. It is a common practice to clear equatorial forests to make way for crops, which increases soil erosion.

It is possible to describe the flora and fauna of Madagascar by mentioning only endemic species. The island separated from the continents long ago enough that the species here evolved independently. It is home to 103 species of lemurs or two-thirds of all chameleons discovered in the world. The most dangerous predators are crocodiles.

The name Madagascar comes from the writings of Marco Polo, who, writing about the city of Mogadishu, mistakenly described it as an island.

The Malagasy, or natives, number 20 million people. They are divided into 18 ethnic groups, very diverse in terms of customs, but quite similar in terms of origin. The Merina group makes up 20% of the population. Each group speaks its own dialect of the Malagasy language, which sometimes makes it difficult for the Malagasy to communicate with each other. According to official data, 65% of the Malagasy are illiterate. It is not known how many of the inhabitants practice animistic religions. There are numerous missions on the island, which, in addition to strictly religious activities, run schools and hospitals.
The Mahafaly ethnic group is known for building magnificent tombs, commemorating a king, tribal chief, or other important figure. The tomb is decorated with the antlers of zebu cattle. The largest, that of a ruler named Tsiampody, is decorated with horns that once belonged to 700 bulls. The wooden carvings are called "messengers," as they connect the worlds of this world with the afterlife.

The Antandroy tribe also build mausoleums for their dead. Funeral ceremonies last from the moment of death until the tomb is completed. During this time, numerous parties are held. Cows are also slaughtered, which is important because horned cattle indicate the material status of the village and its inhabitants.

The Zafimaniry are a people famous for decorating wooden objects. They make characteristic elements on practically every little thing – from spoons to roof tiles. The construction of a house is closely connected with marriage. During the loose union, it does not have a permanent or official character, the house is built, for example, from bamboo or other light materials. Then, gradually, each fragment and structural element is replaced with more durable ones (wood, clay, stone), which means that the people living in the house are closer to each other, and their common future seems more stable. These elements are covered with ornaments as targets.

Numerous Malagasy legends emphasize the uniqueness of the island. According to one story, before creating the world, God made a "model" of it, on which he looked at his work. After completing the work of creation, he forgot about this place. He was sorry to destroy it, so he placed it in the waters of the ocean - this is how Madagascar was created. Another legend says that while every nation sought God for the best piece of land, the Malagasy, in accordance with the principle of "mora mora", waited for their turn. It turned out that there was no room for them, so God had to give them his earthly residence - Madagascar.