A Short History of South Africa

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Anthony Simon Pursell Early South Africa Over a hundred thousand years ago people in what is now South Africa lived by hunting animals and gathering plants. They used stone tools. Then about 2,000 years ago people in the west learned to herd sheep and cattle. About 200 AD people mixed… Continue reading A Short History of South Africa

A Short History of Namibia

By Tim Lambert Early Namibia In 1487, a Portuguese named Bartholomew Diaz reached what is now Namibia. However, Europeans showed little interest in Namibia until the 19th century because of the desert along its coast. However, in 1884 Namibia became a German colony. Yet at first, the Germans showed little interest in Namibia. The number… Continue reading A Short History of Namibia

A Short History of Tanzania

By Tim Lambert Ancient Tanzania The first human beings in Tanzania lived by hunting animals and gathering plants. Agriculture in Tanzania probably began about 1,000 BC but the farmers still made wooden and stone tools. However, by the 4th century AD, Bantu people began to migrate to Tanzania. They brought iron tools and weapons. Meanwhile,… Continue reading A Short History of Tanzania

A Short History of Zambia

By Tim Lambert Ancient Zambia At the time of Christ, the inhabitants of Zambia were Bushmen, Stone Age hunters, and gatherers. They hunted antelopes with bows and arrows. They also snared smaller animals, collected fruits and nuts, and gathered caterpillars and locusts. They lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle and made windbreaks from stones and branches, or… Continue reading A Short History of Zambia

A Short History of Uganda

By Tim Lambert Early Uganda In 1875 the explorer Henry Stanley reached Uganda. At that time Uganda was divided into kingdoms. Shortly afterward the first missionaries came to Uganda. The first Anglican missionaries arrived in Uganda in 1877. The first Roman Catholic missionaries arrived in 1879. Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims all tried to convert the… Continue reading A Short History of Uganda

A History of Biscuits

By Tim Lambert Early Cakes and Biscuits The word biscuit is derived from the Latin words bis cotus, meaning twice baked. The idea of making biscuits goes back to the Romans. However, biscuits, as we know them, were developed in the Middle Ages. People have eaten pancakes since the Middle Ages. (The earliest recipe dates… Continue reading A History of Biscuits

A Short History of Lithuania

By Tim Lambert Early Lithuania The ancestors of modern Lithuanians were a people called the Balts who arrived in the area about 2,000 BC. In c.1240 AD a man named Mindaugas united the Lithuanian tribes. In 1251 he converted to Christianity. However, Mindaugas was assassinated in 1263 and his people reverted to paganism. In 1316… Continue reading A Short History of Lithuania