Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar (Malagasy: Repoblikan’i Madagasikara; French: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Southeast Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago and began to drift east towards Africa. It is a member of the United Nations, Francophonie and Association of Indian Ocean States.
The first humans arrived on Madagascar between 350 BC and 550 AD by Austronesian sailors arriving on outrigger canoes from Borneo. These were joined around 1000 AD by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel from East Africa. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into eighteen or more subgroups with distinct cultures that have developed over centuries within specific regions of the island. Traditionally, four separate “noble” caste categories exist: Hova (freemen), Andriana (nobility), Zana-malata (slaves), and Antaifasy or Leboa (castaways). Over 90% of present-day Malaysians live in coastal areas. The highland interior has historically been sparsely populated due chiefly to rugged terrain and harsh climatic conditions there but some upland rice farming villages do exist as do several large cattle ranches near major port cities along rivers emptying into shallow bays along much of this coastline where people engage mainly in fishing activities supplemented by small scale trading activity featuring locally produced goods such as rice wine and livestock products going inland for salt, tobacco, coffee beans grown in central highlands region brought downriver for processing at port city markets.. There are also pockets consisting mainly of Chinese immigrants engaged primarily in entrepreneurial endeavors such as running restaurants and import/export businesses while living apart from native Malagasy people who tend to view them with suspicion..
The earliest recorded history of great interest that has survived from precolonial times pertains to the period known as Merina Kingdom during which extensive irrigation works were constructed transforming large tracts formerly uninhabitable due to malaria into productive agricultural land capable supporting dense populations.. In addition system known popularly today “tromba” used harness wave power was invented allowing ships enter heretofore unnavigable waters upriver considerably expanding trade routes bringing increased prosperity kingdom.. This era saw rise powerful queen named Ranavalona I whose tyrannical rule led many deaths political rivals among her subjects before she was eventually overthrown army generals leading subsequent period marked instability characterized by succession military coups d’état resulting weak governments unable bring about much needed reforms social economic systems country.. European colonizers finally arrived 1883 when France established protectorate called “Madagascar” which included not only contemporary territory but also Comoros Islands Mayotte other nearby possessions would later be transferred colonial control.. After bitter struggle against forces led future national hero General Philibert Tsiranana peace agreement reached 1960 followed independence year later under his leadership first president Republic Madagascar until he was ousted coup 1973 replaced Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava short lived government then Major General Ramanantsoa 1975 followed another period turmoil culminating August 1992 overthrow President Didier Ratsiraka return democratic rule now represented Third Republic