Mauritius has a rich history marked by various colonial powers, starting with the Arabs naming the island, followed by the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British settlements. The British took control in 1810, maintaining French laws and language, and after the abolition of slavery in 1835, they relied heavily on Indian indentured labor for their sugar plantations. Mauritius gained independence in 1968, concluding a complex historical narrative of colonization and labor dynamics.

1. MauritiusHistory

2. It has been frequently hypothesized that Mauritius was first discovered by the Arabs, who named the island Dina Harobi. ~ Wiki

4. Arrival of Portuguese between 1507 and 1513

6. Dutch arrive in 1598, Island is named Mauritius afterPrince Maurits Van Nassau, the stadtholder of Holland.

7. ......and took away the precious Ebony Trees

8. and also The..

9. Dodo

10. Dutch Colonisation 1638–1710, Grew Sugar Cane & traded Slaves

12. Frenchrule 1710–1810

13. Frenchrule 1710–1810name the island"Isle de France"

15. British Rule 1810–1968

17. Despite the only French naval victory (during the Napoleonic Wars) of Battle of Grand Port on 19 and 20 August 1810 by a fleet commanded by Pierre Bouvet, Mauritius was captured on 3 December 1810 by the British under Commodore Josias Rowley. Their possession of the island was confirmed four years later by the Treaty of Paris (1814). French institutions, including the Napoleonic code of law, were maintained. The French language was at that moment still used more widely than English.

19. Indentured labourers

20. Whenslaverywas abolished in 1835, an attempt was made to secure a cheap source of adaptable labour for intensive sugar plantationsin Mauritius. Indentured labour began with Chinese, Malay, African and Malagasy labourers, but ultimately, it was Indiawhich supplied the much needed laborers to Mauritius.This period of intensive use of Indian labour took place duringBritish rule,with many brutal episodes and a long struggle by the indentured for respect. Thetermapplied to the indentured during this period, and which has since become a derogatoryterm for Mauritians of Asian descent, was Coolie. ~Wiki

21. When slavery was abolished in 1835, an attempt was made to secure a cheap source of adaptable labour for intensive sugar plantations in Mauritius.Indentured labour began with Chinese, Malay, African and Malagasy labourers, but ultimately, it was India which supplied the much needed laborers to Mauritius. This period of intensive use of Indian labour took place during British rule, with many brutal episodes and a long struggle by the indentured for respect. The term applied to the indentured during this period, and which has since become a derogatory term for Mauritians of Asian descent, was Coolie. ~Wiki

22. Independence achieved 1968

23. To Be Continued......

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