The Zulu Empire

[DMA]

What if by the time Europeans, especially the Dutch & British, visited & explored Southern Africa, the Zulus had already expanded into the region earlier by either conquering their neighbours or by settling in areas which were vacant. In other words the Zulu Empire was exactly that - a large region which basically controlled all of today’s territory of South Africa.

What do the first European explorers do let alone latter hopeful colonists? Are friendly relations established or does battle pretty much take place at first contact?

Can the Zulus, possibly one of the best martial people around, hold out & remain independent & strong?

And how is African, let alone world history, altered as a result?

Anything else?

 

[Rocano]

The Zulus were alraedy very large but nothing much Different. Unless Zulus ally to British

 

[Dave Howery]

the oft-quoted Guns, Germs, and Steel has a chapter about why blacks in Africa went where they did, and why they didn't go into S. Africa... mainly had to do with SA's different climate and the crops the natives had... basically, IIRC, the blacks couldn't grow their tropical crops in the Meditteranean climate of SA... so, to get the Zulus across the place, you have to give them different plants.... not a huge POD, really....

 

[Thande]

I think this is somewhat analogous to saying 'what if the Mongols invaded Europe in 840 AD instead?' It can't really happen given the timescale involved - we're talking a difference between c. 1600 and about 1830ish...