User:Graham Harris/Seychelles: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Seychelles.gif|right|300px]] | [[Image:Seychelles.gif|right|300px]] | ||
The '''Republic of Seychelles''' is an island nation in the [[Indian Ocean]]. The archipelago lies northeast of [[Madagascar]] and 1,000 miles East of [[Kenya]]. The | The '''Republic of Seychelles''' is an island nation in the [[Indian Ocean]]. The archipelago lies northeast of [[Madagascar]] and 1,000 miles East of [[Kenya]]. The people are mostly of French and East African ancestry. It has the smallest population of any sovereign [[Africa|African]] nation with 80,000 citezens. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 11:58, 30 March 2007
The Republic of Seychelles is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. The archipelago lies northeast of Madagascar and 1,000 miles East of Kenya. The people are mostly of French and East African ancestry. It has the smallest population of any sovereign African nation with 80,000 citezens.
History
The Seychelles were first mapped by Portuguese explorers in 1505. In 1609 the British East India Company landed on the islands and found them uninhabited.
Lazare Picault explored the islands in 1742, and the Séchelles were annexed by France in 1756. After a lengthy struggle with Britain, possetion of the islands was ceded by France in 1814.
find sources for
(
- Description of French colony during this time, when was it set up, what did it do.
- Dependancy on Mauritius until 1904, both Mauritius and Seychelles passed from French to British
- History of ethnic groups brought to the islands as slaves and laborors
- French and East African ancestry
- Indian, Chinese, and Arab
- End of slavery switched economy from plantaions to other
)
Initially uninhabited when discovered by western explorers. On Portuguese maps by 1505.
- 1505 on Portuguese maps
- 1609 landed on by the British East India Company
- 1742 explored by Lazare Picault
- 1756 Séchelles annexed by France
- 1810 surrender to British by France
- 1814 Treaty of Paris, ceded to Great Britain, now Seychelles
- ~1830 abolition of slavery
- 1888 beginnings of self rule, executive and administrative councils set up
- 1903 a British crown colony
- 1948 a Legislative Council was created
- 1970 new constitution
- 1975 self-government, James R. Mancham first president, France-Albert René prime minister
- 1976 independance within the Commonwealth
- 1977 France-Albert René became president in a coup d'état
- 1979 became a one-party socialist state, Seychelles People's Progressive Front (FPPS)
- 1993 new constitution and free elections
- 2004 France-Albert René, in power since 1977, steps down. James Michel steps up [1]
Geography
Located at about latitude 7° S and longitude 50° E the tropical island are made up of two groups; the Mahé, granit mountains, and a second group of coralline islands on the outskirts.
Flora and Fauna
Tropical and lush, with little yearly temperature variation.
People
Native toung Kreol (Seychellois Creole), but English is the official language (ref CIA)
Government
Current presedent James Michel.
Economy
Exports: Fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports)(BBC)
Culture
Military
Transportation
References
Links
- ↑ CIA