No Zulu Empire

How would European Colonization of South Africa go if the Zulu Empire was either Much Smaller or non-existent?
 
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I don't think you quite understand the question's subject, sir.
 
I don't think you quite understand the question's subject, sir.

He probably meant South Africa.

In any case, without the Zulu conquests, tensions between the Boers and the various African native tribes will be much lower without the pressures of the Mfecane displacing or killing hundreds of thousands of people. So too will Blood River be butterflied away.
 
He probably meant South Africa.

In any case, without the Zulu conquests, tensions between the Boers and the various African native tribes will be much lower without the pressures of the Mfecane displacing or killing hundreds of thousands of people. So too will Blood River be butterflied away.

Would this mean no apartheid or not so harsh apartheid?
 
I doubt it. Even if there was no apartheid it's unlikely they'll be treated well.

Yeah, the Boers are going to look to expand their power base eventually, and given the common European colonial mindset at the time I can't really see the natives being treated well, even if Apartheid is less extreme/not implemented.
 
Not much different. The British founded the Cape Colony during Shaka's time. And it was the British who defeated them in the end. I'd say though that colonisation would be easier, since it would be a scattering of tribes and little more. They wouldn't have the same strategies/tactics that Shaka laid down, unless a "Shaka" was born or lived later in the 19th century.
 
Would this mean no apartheid or not so harsh apartheid?

Oh, my bad then. :eek:


I doubt it. Even if there was no apartheid it's unlikely they'll be treated well.

No Zulu Empire probably butterflies away apartheid. The Zulu Empire was founded more than 100 years before apartheid was implemented, so it's very unlikely that the political development of South Africa will continue as per OTL.
 
Yeah, the Boers are going to look to expand their power base eventually, and given the common European colonial mindset at the time I can't really see the natives being treated well, even if Apartheid is less extreme/not implemented.

You do know that it was the British who broke the back of the British Empire, not the Boers, right?
 
How would European Colonization of South Africa go if the Zulu Empire was either Much Smaller or non-existent?

The Zulu empire wasn't that big to start off with, only really controlling what is today northern KwaZulu-Natal.

No Mfecane may mean less upheaval in South Africa though, meaning the people already in SA will be better placed to beat back British and Boer incursions into their territory. No Mfecane also probably means no Swazi or Ndebele people. No Ndebele people is a big one for Zimbabwe, and will have big implications there.
 
You do know that it was the British who broke the back of the British Empire, not the Boers, right?

Indeed, while the British were the ones to finish off the Zulu Kingdom, it was the Afrikaner National Party who pursued a policy of apartheid in the mid-20th century. While I don't doubt that the Boers aren't going to be eventually absorbed by the British Empire, I still could see a form of apartheid coming into being as it did in OTL; a means of appeasing a white minority that is fearful of demographic and international political changes.
 
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