| |
| 1860 |
| |
| Republic of Lydenburg joined the South African Republic. | 1 |
| |
| 1865–66 |
| |
| War between the Orange Free State and Moshoeshoe's Sotho resulted in cession of most of Sotho state's arable land. | 2 |
| Severe economic depression in South Africa. | 3 |
| |
| 1866 |
| |
| The Indian government stopped supply of indentured Indian labor to Natal. | 4 |
| |
| 1867, April |
| |
| DISCOVERY OF DIAMONDS near Hopetown on the Orange River. By 1870 a considerable mining industry had emerged. The discovery of diamonds led to a profound restructuring of the relationships among the various communities in South Africa and ushered in an era of INDUSTRIAL CAPITALISM. | 5 |
| |
| 1868, March 12 |
| |
| Britain annexed Basotholand as a protectorate, following a request by Moshoeshoe, and began the process of establishing white governance over African areas without a substantial white presence. | 6 |
| |
| 1868–71 |
| |
| Lobengula became Ndebele king after a civil war over succession to Mzilikazi. | 7 |
| |
| 1870 |
| |
| Digger's Republic was proclaimed at Klipdrift. | 8 |
| Diamonds were discovered in the Orange Free State. | 9 |
| |
| 1870–80 |
| |
| “Dry diggings” took place in diamond fields of what became Kimberley in the northern Cape. By 1875, this region became the largest diamond-producing area. THE MINING ECONOMY TRANSFORMED THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ALL PEOPLES IN THE REGION, commercializing agriculture and leading to migrant labor systems, increase in Christian missionary activity, and conquest of independent kingdoms. Productive mines were increasingly concentrated into a few big conglomerates. | 10 |
| |
| 1870–90 |
| |
| Ndebele kingdom maintained dominance in Zimbabwe and exacted tribute from Shona and Rozwi chiefdoms; missionary activities were allowed in the core area of the kingdom, but conversion was discouraged. | 11 |
| |
| 1870–1904 |
| |
| Mineral revolution led to white immigration, increasing the white population in South Africa from 225,000 to 1 million. | 12 |
| |
| 1871 |
| |
| Kimberley soon became the center of the diamond industry. Cecil Rhodes moved from Natal to Kimberley. | 13 |
| |
| April |
| |
| The British government annexed the diamond region (Griqualand West). | 14 |
| Carl Mauch reached Zimbabwe. | 15 |
| |
| |
