Zambia has a long and storied past – discoveries indicate that this area of Africa could very well be the cradle of civilization. The earliest known evidence of homo sapiens’ existence has been found in a vast archeological site just outside Lusaka.
While those early humans left little behind to illustrate how they lived, many have followed in their footsteps and left a mark on Zambian society. About 250 years ago, the Portuguese followed Arab slave trading routes into the heart of Africa, finding their way through what is now Zambia. The Spanish and English came later, inhabiting and then controlling this land. Their influences can still be seen in the architecture, traditions and culture of the country.
Prior to gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia. |
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Quick Facts
- In the 1700s, Portuguese explorers became the first known Europeans to visit what is now known as Zambia.
- Zambia is named after the Zambezi river, the fourth longest river in Africa.
- The British South African Company took control of the area known as Zambia in 1911 and the country was named Northern Rhodesia.
- Zambia has long relied on copper – its one abundant natural resource – as a means for job creation and exports.
- While Zambia has enjoyed decades of peace, there have been a few incidents of internal strife. In 1997, a group of army officers attempted a coup, creating a state of emergency that lasted several months.
- The per capita income in Zambia is under $400, making the country one of the poorest nations in the world.
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