500.000 YEARS IN THE MAKING BOTSWANA

Beginning of time according to Sotho-Tswana legend the first person, Matsieng, was guided out of the underworld realm of the demi-god Timtibane by Lowe, surfacing at Rasesa.

500,000 years ago – Stone Age tools found throughout Botswana.

25,000 years ago – Earliest rock paintings at the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site, provide a unique window of ancient humanity.

By 200 BC – Livestock keeping the rise of pastoralism.

By 350 (AD) – Early Iron Age settlements in northern and eastern, Botswana coincide with the agreed of arable agriculture.

From 700 – Emergence of larger semi-pernanent settlements, the region integrated into coastal trading networking as locally products sought after in Asian markets.

From 1000 – Flourishing of Late Iron Age civilisations in the Shashe–Limpopo basin. The golden Kingdom of Mapungubwe rules over much of eastern Botswana and adjacent parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa, giving birth to subsequent Ikalanga civilisations.

1400s – Mambo Madabhale Chibundule establishes Bakalanga - Bahumbe Kingdom in north-eastern Botswana and south-western Zimbabwe.

1500s – Breakup of royal Baphofu Confederacy gives rise to modern Batswana merafe.

1600s – Banyayi leader Chilisamhulu overthrows the Chibundule dynasty to establish new Bakalanga–Banyayi Kingdom. Following his defeat of the Portuguese in 1684, the Mambo is referred to as Changamire Dombo, from his royal title Nichasike Dombolalonachingwango. Bakwena, Kgosi Kgabo breaks from the House of Magopa to establish himself in south-eastern Batswana, joined by Bangwato and Bangwaketse.

1700s – Bangwaketse breakaway from the Bakwena to form separate merafe, followed by Bangwato and Batawana.

1801 – Truter–Somerville expedition, first official British contact with Batswana.

1816 – LMS missionaries begin work among Batswana. Kudumane mission founded.

1822 – Robert Moffat visit's Kgosi Makaba II of the Bangwaketse, first missionary in Botswana.

1823 – The Makololo of Sebetwane begin their two decade invasion through eastern, central and north-western Botswana leading to the temporary breakup of many merafe.

1825 – Bangwaketse, Bakwena and Bakgatla ba ga Mmanaana defeated by Makololo at Losabanyana; Makaba II killed.

1826 – Bangwaketse under Kgosi Sebego defeat and expel Makololo in decisive 28 August 1826 Battle of Dithubaruba. Sebetwane rebuilds following and moves into northern Botswana.

1830 – Robert Moffat acquire printing press, begins publishing Setswana materials.

1831 – Amandebele defeat alliance Griqua of Kaptien Barend Barends and Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela of Kgosi Pilane. Bakgatla escape to join Bapedi.

1832 – Amandebele under "Tautona" Mzilakazi move into Madukwe region, demand tribute from all merafe. Barolong and Bangwaketse kill Amandebele tribute collectors. Barolong subsequently defeated at Khunwana, Sebego withdraws to Letlhakeng.

1833 – Amandebele invasion defeat by Sebego at Dutlwe, who subsequently invades western Kgalagadi, expelling the Ovambandero from Ghanzi, while raiding Bangaloga. Sechele becomes Kgosi of Bakwena.

1834–54 – Boers invade South African Highveld seizing land from Batawana and other Africans.

1835 – Sekgoma I becomes Kgosi of Bangwato.

1836 – Barolong Kgosi Maroka rescues Boers at Vegkop following an Amandebele attack. Temporary Boer–Batswana–Griqua alliance formed.

1837 – Under pressure of Batswana, Boers and Griqua, the Amandebele invade Zimbabwe via Botswana.

1840 – Amandebele join Amangani on conquering the Bakalanga - Banyeyi Kingdom.

1841 – David Livingstone begins missionary work in Botswana.

1842 – Amandebele raid in esastern Botswana, clashing with Bangwato and Bakwena.

1844 – Bangwato use guns in large numbers for the first time to defeat Amandebele at Shoshong. Sechele begins to acquire advanced munitions from Birmingham manufactures as well as through local trading.

1847 – Kgosi Sechele assits David Livingstone in establishing first mission school as well as Church at Kolobeng. Letsholathebe becomes Kgosi of the Batawana.

1849 – Dikgosi Sechele, Sekgoma and Letsholathebe open the road to the north through their territories, acquring guns in the process. Europeans begin travelling to Ngamiland and the middle Zambezi.

1852 – Batswana–Boer War breaks out after Bakgatla ba ga Mmanaana flee into Botswana to escape Boers. Led by Sechele, Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bakaa and Bakgatla resist Boer invasion at Dimawe, Kgwakgwe and Dithubaruba, resulting in the Boers retreat back into the Transsvaal.

1852–53 – Batswana pillage farms in the western Transvaal resulting in the Boers temporarily abandoning the region west of Rustenbur and Potshcheftroom. Batlokwa, Balete, Bahurutshe and Barolong boo – Ratshedi, as well as Bakgatla ba ga Bakgatla ba ga Mmanaana, migrate into Botswana to join Sechele.

1853 – Barolong boo Ratshedi wound Boer President Andries Pretorius during 7 January 1853 Battle of Setlagole. The following month Sechele agrees to Pretorius request for ceasefire after Boers sue for peace.

1854 – Battle of Kwebe, armed with guns the Batawana defeat the Makololo.

1856–57 – First Setswana newspaper published – Moleki oa Bechuana and Mokaeri oa Bechuana le Muleri oa Makuku.

1857 – Setswana Bible published. Peace agreement between Sechele and Transvaal President Marthinus Pretorius (son of Andries). Arrival of Lutheran missionaries in Botswana.Gaseitsiwe overcomes Senthufe to become undisputed Kgosi of the Bangwaketse.

1858 – Sechele rescues Bangwato Prince Matsheng from Amandebele, who is installed as Bangwato Kgosi in place of Sekgoma. Nharo–Khoe of Dukiri in Ghanzi are defeated by Batawana.

1859 – Sechele facilitates re-installation of Sekgoma as Kgosi of Bangwato in place of Matsheng.

1863 – Amandebele attack on Shoshong defeated by Bangwato. With peace prevaling, merafe in south-eastern Botswana spread out from overcrowded Dithubaruba to found new settlements, including Molepolole, Moshupa, Mmankgodi, Manyana, later Kumakwane and Ramotswa.

1865–66 – Gaseitsiwe, Montshiwa and Sechele threaten to go to war if Transvaal Boers seize Lehurutshe. The Boers back down. Bangwato Civil War breaks out between Sekgoma and his son Khama. Sechele agrees to reinstall Matsheng to bring peace.

1867 – German explorer Karl Mauch funds gold in the North east District.

1869 – Paul Kruger flogs Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela Kgosi Kgamanyane. Many Ba ga Kgafela relocate from Tshwenetshwene in the Transvaal to Mochudi in Kwena country.

1871 – Missionary Joseph Ludorf drafts constitution for "United Barolong, Batlhaping and Bangwaketse Nations". Bakwena subsequently join union, but constitutiom lapses. British annex diamond rich Batlhaping lands around Kimberly as Griqualand West.

1872 – Sechele installs Khama as Kgosi of Bangwato in place of Khama.

1875 – First full Setswana Dictionary published. Inter merafe conflicts breakout in throughout southern Botswana. Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela defeat Bakwena at Mochudi. Khama ousts Sekgoma in Gammangwato, remains in power till 1923 death.

1876 – Bakwena defeat Ba ga Kgafela, Balete and Batlokwa at Molepolole. Breech loading rifles introduced. British occupy the Transvaal. Balozi destroy Vekuhane (Basubiya) state of Itenge.

1878–79 – First Anglo–Batlhaping War. British Forces under Warren occupy Batswana lands south of the Molopo.

1881 – British temporarily withdraw from the Transvaal and southern Batswana lands. Balete defeat Bangwaketse at Ramotswa. Inter - merafe wars in southern Botswana end.

1883 – Bakwena, Bangwaketse, and Barolong renew attempt to form a confederation to counter growing British and Boer threats. Barolong and Bangwaketse defeat Goshenite Boers.

1884 – British reoccupy Batswana lands south of the Molopo. Batawana with Wayeyi support, massacre Amandebele at Battle of Khutiyabasadi, killing some two thousand.

1885 – The British unilaterally proclaim the Bechuanaland Protectorate to counter Germany's occupation of Namibia.

1886 – British land commission awards 92% Batlhaping and Barolong land, south of the Molopo, to whites.

1887 – Battle of Ngwapa, Bangwato defeat Baseleka with British support.

1888 – Rudd Concession becomes basis of British South Africa claims to Zimbabwe.

1889 – Most Batswana Dikgosi object to colonial rule at the Kopong Conference. The British South African Company (BSA-Co) is awarded a royal charter to administer Botswana and Central Africa in the name of the British crown. Khama moves capital from Shoshong to Palapye.

1890 – Overriding local objections, the British, through an Order-in Council, grant themselves the right to exercise colonial control over Botswana through the Foreign Jurisductions Act, the Protectorate is extended to Ngamiland and Chobe. BSACo Pioneer Column passes through Batswana in route to Zimbabwe.

1891 – 2nd Order-in-Council gives the High Commissioner absolute administrative powers on the basis of the Bramestone Memorandum, which legally define Bechuanaland Protectorate as: "An uncivilized territory to which Europeans resort in greater or less numbers, and where, in as much as the native rulers of the territory are incapable of maintaining peace, order and government among Europeans, the protecting Power maintains courts, police and other institutions for the control, safety and benefit of its own subjects and of the natives". Sekgoma Letsholathebe becomes Kgosi of Batawana.

1892 – Tati (North east District) joined to the Protectorate. Sechele dies.

1893 – Bechuanaland Border Police and Bangwato help the BSACo destroy the Amandebele Kingdom in Zimbabwe. Concessions Commission meets.

1894 – Bangwato rule extended into Bukalanga region.

1895 – Bathoen I, Khama I, and Sebele I, travel to Britain to oppose the proposed transfer of their territories to BSACo administrative control.

1896 – Failure of Jameson Raid ends the immediate threat of the Protectorate's transfers to BSACo control. Rinderpost (bolwane) destroys livestock and wild life. Batswana south of the Molopo annexed to the Cape Colony.

1897 – Mahikeng to Bulawayo railway built. Second Anglo - Batlhaping War.

1898 – Boers settled by BSACo in Ghanzi.

1899 – The major Batswana "reserves" are demarcated and Hut Tax is introduced.

1899–1902 – Batswana fight in the South African (Boer) War. Bakgatla conquer territory between Kgatleng and Rustenburg but are forced by the British to give it up. Barolong and others defend Mahikeng.

1901 – Koranta ea Becoana, the first Setswana newspaper owned and run by Batswana, appears.

1902 – Khama moves capital from Palapye to Serowe.

1904–05 – Tens of thousands of Ovaherero and Nama flee to Botswana to escape German oppression and genocide in Namibia.

1906 – British depose and detain without trial Kgosi Sekgoma Letsholathebe of the Batawana.

1908 – Bathoen and Sebele petition against incorporation into proposed Union of South Africa. Germans invade south - western Botswana in failed effort to defeat Nama of Simon Kooper.

1909 – Batswana continue to protest against the Union of South Africa. Bathoen and Sebele send Gerrans to London as their representative. Germans occupy Eastern Caprivi causing many local Bekuhane to flee across Chobe into Botswana.

1910 – Bathoen I dies. Union of South Africa formed with provisions for future incorporation of Botswana. Sekgoma Letsholathebe loses case in Privy Council.

1911 – Sebele I dies.

1912 – Native Recruiting Corporation begins systenatic recruitment of migrant labour for mines. Botswana delegates attend the inaugural conference of the African National Congress. Sekgoma Letsholathebe settles at Kavimba, dies 1914.

1913 – First Setswana history book. Dinwao leha e le dipolelo kaga dico tsa Setswana, published.

1914–1918 – World War I, at least 3,500 Protectorate Batswana serve in France, East Africa, and Namibia.

1919 – Native (later African) Advisory Council established.

1920 – Babirwa of Malema forced from the Tuli Block.

1921 – Isang Pilane installed as regent of Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela, following stroke of Kgosi Linchwe I, begins building Bakgatla National Scohool.

1924 – South Africa begins 15 year ban on cattle exported to the Union from the Protectorate.

1926 – Tshekedi Khama begins reign as Bangwato regent, by escaping an assassination attempt.

1927 – Bangwaketse regent Ntebogang joins Dikgosi Tshekedi and Sebele II of Bakwena in petitioning against attempts to reduce their powers.

1928 – Bathoen II installed as Kgosi of Bangwaketse, Bangwaketse pioneer the creation of a universal health service, two decades before the British NHS.

1929 – Installation of Kgosi Molefi II after Isang Pilane steps down from Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela regency.

1931 – British detain without charges or trial, Kgosi Sebele II of the Bakwena, exiling him to Ghanzi.

1932 – Tati Training Institute founded by K.T Motsete with support of Bakalanga communities in North East but closed permanently in 1941 due to insufficient funds during the war.

1933 – Tshekedi Khama briefly suspended as Bangwato regent after having a European flogged in the Serowe kgotla for misconduct. British threaten to bomb Moshupa, forcing Kgosi Gobuamang to surrender.

Death of Kgosi Gaborone at the age of about 110 years followed by the demarcation of Batlokwa Reserve.

1934 – Resident Commissioner Charles Rey issues "Native Proclamations", resisted by Tshekedi and other dikgosi. Witwatersrand Native Labour Association begins recruiting mining labourers north of 22 degrees latitude.

1936 – Molefi of the Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela suspended as Kgosi.

1939–1945 – World War II: more than 10.000 Batswana serve in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

1943 – Dikgosi accept revised "Native Administration" proclamations.

1949 – St Joseph's College, it was founded by Roman Catholic Church, which had earlier established its mission station at Kgale in 1928.

1946 – Tshekedi organises "Bechuanaland Chiefs and Peoples" opposition at the United Nations to the incorporation of Namibia into South Africa.

Death of Kgosi Moremi III results in regency of his window Pulane Moremi.

1946–1948 – Batswana soldiers stationed in Palestine and Egypt as High Commission Territories Corps. Corps disbanded due to South African pressure.

1947 – Village of followers of John Nswazwi stormed by Bangwato in presence of protectorate police.

1949 – Seretse Khama banished from Reserve, Tshekedi Khama suspended. Moeing College opened, built by Gammangwato communities under Kgosi Tshekedi Khama.

1950 – The multiracial Joint Advisory Council established. Seepapitso II Secondary School opened, founded by Bangwaketse under Kgosi Bathoen II. Its first (acting) Headteacher was Ketumile Masire.

1951 – Mochudi (later Molefi II) School opened.

1952 – At Serowe, three police officers killed in protest against Seretse's banishment.

1954 – Abattoir opened in Lobatse. Wayeyi separatist movement gains support in Ngamiland.

1956 – Seretse Khama returns to Botswana. Kgari Sechele Secondary School opened in Molepolole.

1957 – Elected local councils introduced.

1958 – Seretse Khama speaks out against the Protectorate's potential incorporation into Central Africa Federation; calls on Batswana take control of their own destiny.

1959 – Leetile Raditladi establishes the Federal Party. Tshekedi Khama and Roan Selection Trust create Bamangwato Concessions Limited (BCL) to exploit copper deposits.

1960 – Bechuanaland People's Party (BPP) founded. Seretse Khama hosts Oliver Tambo in Serowe.

1961 – First meeting of the Legislative Council. Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP) founded.

1962 – BPP splits. Philip Matante and K.T Motsete attack Motsamai Mpho and "ANC influence" in Botswana. Mandela passes through Botswana meets K.T Motsete and Seretse Khama among others.

Moeding opened by what is now the UCCSA church. The school was established after "Old Moeding", i.e Tiger Kloof near Vryburg, was closed by the Apartheid regime.

Death of Kgari Sechele results in bitter dispute over Bogosi.

Palapye residents block train carrying ANC and SWAPO detainees, including Thabo Mbeki, from Rhodesia to South Africa. ANC convenes its first external Congress at Lobatse.

1963 - Constitutional talks in Lobatse, talks lead to agreement based as one person, one vote consititution; construction of new capital at Gaborone begins. Swaneng Hill School established by Serowe community led by Patrick Van Rensburg. Mater Spei College in Francistown begins, as additional classes