South Africa: History, Geography, Economy & Culture

South Africa. Perhaps the first word that comes to mind is Apartheid, a system that enshrined in law racial discrimination at a national level. But those days are long gone now, and South Africa is attempting to reinvent itself as the "Rainbow Nation" of ethnic diversity. And there is so much more to South Africa. Having the most concentrated deposits of minerals found anywhere in the world, it's no surprise that South Africa dominated the gold and diamond mining industry for decades. But these days its tourists that bring in much of the wealth, and with so much stunning natural beauty, flora and fauna, it's no wonder. Welcome to South Africa!

🕐TIMESTAMPS🕖
👉0:00 Introduction, Titles
👉2:17 Ancient & Colonial History of South Africa
👉7:33 Modern History of South Africa, Apartheid
👉11:39 South African Government Structure & Symbols
👉13:39 Physical Geography of South Africa
👉15:36 Climate of South Africa, Biomes
👉17:56 Human Geography of South Africa
👉19:56 South African Economy
👉23:12 South African Culture, Famous South Africans
👉25:57 Outro

In this half-hour South African documentary I'll cover the history of South Africa, South Africa's geography, the economy of South Africa and South African culture.

Humans have lived in South Africa longer than almost any other nation, and the predecessors of humans were also here, with South Africa having more pre-hominid fossils in the "cradle of humankind" than any other nation. The Khoisan people (Hottentots or Bushmen) are descendants of the original human settlement, and are still here. Bantu speaking peoples arrived here about 1000-1500 years ago, and make up the ancestors of the Zulu and Xhosa peoples that today form the largest ethnic minorities in South Africa.

Dutch settlers arrived in the 16th century, and soon encountered the natives where fierce wars broke out. And then came the British in the 19th century, who set out to make the whole cape a colony. The Dutch Afrikaners or Boers resented British rule and set out on the Great Trek to found their own republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. The British defeated the rising Zulu kingdom in the east, and then defeated the Boer republics in the First and Second Boer Wars. These wars were further motivated by the discovery of rich diamond and gold deposits in the north-east, and South Africa would go on to become the world's #1 producer of gold and diamonds.

In the early twentieth century, South Africa gained independence from Britain, and in response to a large influx of black Africans into the cities, the Republic of South Africa set into infamous law, the Apartheid system, that set out separate areas for living and public spaces between the whites, coloureds, black Africans and Indians. Over the ensuing decades, these laws resulted in the isolation of South Africa from the rest of the world, that condemned the practice. Eventually, in the early 1990s, the system was abandoned, and former prisoner and anti-apartheid leader, Nelson Mandela became president.

The geography of South Africa is rich, and features a central plateau that dramatically falls away in the Great Escarpment to the coast, most notably in the Drakensburg mountains. The climate is largely wet in the east and dry in the west, with savannah, veld (grassland), desert and scrub dominating.

Johannesburg, the centre of the mining industry is the largest city, followed by Cape Town in the far south-west, then Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth all being over one million in population.

South Africa's economy, once dominated by mining, is now highly diverse, with services, manufacturing and tourism all contributing significantly.

The culture of South Africa is a blend of European and African, and many famous people are from this country, including Nelson Mandela, J.R.R. Tolkein, Elon Musk and Charlize Theron.

Closing Music: Qhude Manikiniki (Acapela)

[Geodiode]

🇿🇦 Do you have an experience of South Africa? Just visited as a tourist? Or did you live there, or still live there? Please share your thoughts and moments of your time at the end of the African continent! 🇿🇦

[mitonaarea]

I am always amazed by how this channel doesn't get atleast a million views per video. The quality is unmatched.

[gt_oliver]

Apartheid has long since not been the word when people think of SA. Apartheid ended 29 years ago... People now think of load shedding (daily power failure nation wide), corruption, high taxes, violence, xenophobia, poverty, job losses, unemployment... But people focus also on the good. Good food, best weather, coolest animals, diverse nature and people and culture.

[kammmmay]

Thank you so much for this intro to South Africa. It was a perfect array of history, geography, and culture!

[andrijavasiljevic]

Amazing video as always. I’ve been fascinated by South Africa for quite some time now, specifically by Fynbos and the cape Dutch architecture.

[susanlourens]

I am borne, raised, and still living in South Africa. The Lord has given us a beautiful country. Problems are enough and a reality, but that does not change the beauty and richness of SA. Many people worldwide envy us. Thanks for a very good video.

[christopherbastiaan]

God bless Africa, guide her leaders and give her peace!

[OkunjeMantangana]

I was born and raised in South Africa I love my country ❤

[ElaineBerg-wv]

Very enjoyable presentation! Thank you for so much information.

[IwasInThes]

Three things to note: 1. The British only invaded the Boer republics for the second time (after having lost the first Anglo-Boer war) when gold was discovered.in the north (the Transvaal and Orange Free States). 2. The British victors placed Afrikaner women and children in different concentration camps than their black compatriots, hence the the origin of separation and the roots of apartheid. 3. The "apartheid" government of the 1950' copied the racist signs n seats and buses from the American southern states.

[christelclarkeJbay]

The Anglo Boer War
What they dont tell you is that the British brought fighters from all their colonies to come and fight against the Boers, Dutch farmers. I am currently in New Zealand and at the War Museum here, they describe the Boers as "savages" and uncultured, and that they, the British need to protect the land against these terrible people. So Kiwis and Maori warriors went to fight against the Boers. The real reason for the war was that the British wanted their greedy hands on the natural resources, the gold and diamonds.
And.. how did the British win? They went to the farms and captured the wives and children and put them in concentration camps, tent camps, with no facilities, where many died of starvation!! And many diseases broke out. The British also went and burned the Boers farms /crops.. so they wouldnt have provisions.

[philipsweetnam]

A few inaccuracies in this video, the most notable is the claim that the 1st Boer war was inconclusive, even a 10 second Google search will clearly show the Boers won the 1st Boer war with a decisive victory over the British at the Battle of Majuba Hill.

[melinakerifan]

Exceptional video as always 😍 great work. Your videos make me want to travel 😁 have a wonderful weekend and thank you for your hard work

[clumsytriangle]

I'm South African and you warmed my heart with the introduction. I live and work abroad and haven't been home in over 3 years, and will be visiting later this year. I cannot wait. Our country has had many problems and still does, but one thing about South Africans - SAFFAS - is that we are forever optimists - always looking forward and hoping for a better future for our beautiful land. Oh, and loved the intro music too!!

[yaraviera]

Thanks for sharing this story about south Africa.

[sandrarueda]

I have 1 word to say to this: Extraordinary.

[richardhenry]

A very fair and good assessment of South Africa

[RobBertha-mhfi]

Can’t wait to serve a full time 2 year mission to the beautiful country of South Africa 🇿🇦

[benders_dash-cam]

I visited Durban and Port Elisabeth 1970 as a sailor in the Swedish merchant navy. Some years ago there where a documentary on Swedish TV about Karoo Kitar players. Specially one named Hannes Coetzee, he plays on an oil can guitar. And I'm so fascinated about the sound from that guitar. Hannes plays with a special fingerstyle. There is a video on YouTube called Ek Kô Huistoe (africans), that's true Karoo Kitar Blues.

[Lane]

Im a Californian who lived in Cape Town for several years in the early 2, 000s.
A beautiful country full of fascinating peoples and challenges; security being a big one. A smart and industrious people i wish them all the very best and may thevRsinbow ideal be advanced justly and without descent into the chaos of Zimbabwe. N’kjisi sikelele i Afrika!