Following the prehistoric breakup of thesupercontinentGondwana,Madagascar split from Africa during the EarlyJurassic,around 180 million years ago, and split from theIndian subcontinentaround 90 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation; consequently, it is abiodiversity hotspotand one of the world's 17megadiverse countries,with over 90% ofwildlifebeing endemic. The island has a subtropical to tropical maritime climate. Madagascar was first settled during or before the mid-first millennium AD byAustronesian peoples,presumably arriving onoutrigger canoesfrom present-dayIndonesia.These were joined around the ninth century AD byBantumigrants 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. Consequently, there are 18 or more classifiedpeoples of Madagascar,the most numerous being theMerinaof the central highlands.
Until the late 18th century, the island of Madagascar was ruled by a fragmented assortment of shifting sociopolitical alliances. Beginning in the early 19th century, most of it was united and ruled as theKingdom of Madagascarby aseriesof Merinanobles.The monarchy was ended in 1897 by theannexation by France,from which Madagascar gained independence in 1960. The country has since undergone four major constitutional periods, termed republics, and has been governed as a constitutional democracy since 1992. Following apolitical crisis and military coup in 2009,Madagascar underwent aprotracted transition towardsits fourth and current republic, with constitutional governance being restored in January 2014. (Full article...)
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Skull ofTriaenops menamena
Triaenops menamenais abatin the genusTriaenopsfound onMadagascar,mainly in the drier regions. It was known asTriaenops rufusuntil 2009, when it was discovered that that name had been incorrectly applied to the species.Triaenops rufusis asynonymofTriaenops persicus,a Middle Eastern species closely related toT. menamena— the Malagasy species had previously been placed as asubspeciesofT. persicusby some authors.Triaenops menamenais mostly found in forests, but also occurs in other habitats. It often roosts in large colonies and eats insects such asbutterflies and moths.Because of its wide range, common occurrence, and tolerance ofhabitat degradation,it is not considered to be threatened.
With a forearm length of 50 to 56 mm (2.0 to 2.2 in) in males and 46 to 53 mm (1.8 to 2.1 in) in females, this is a medium-sized bat. Its fur color is variable, ranging from reddish brown to gray, but it is generally darker than the species in the closely related genusParatriaenopswhich also occur on Madagascar. The skull contains a pronounced swelling around the nose and the second upperpremolaris displaced outside the toothrow. The maximum frequency of theecholocationcall averages 94.2 kHzand the species can easily be recognized on the basis of its call. (Full article...)
King's African Rifles'25 pdrbattery in action nearAmbositrain Madagascar against Vichy positions during Operation Stream Line Jane, September 1942.
TheBattle of Madagascar(5 May – 6 November 1942) was anAlliedcampaign to capture theVichy French-controlled islandMadagascarduringWorld War II.The seizure of the island by the British was to deny Madagascar's ports to theImperial Japanese Navyand to prevent the loss or impairment of theAlliedshipping routes to India, Australia and Southeast Asia. It began withOperation Ironclad,the seizure of the port of Diego-Suarez (nowAntsiranana) near the northern tip of the island, on 5 May 1942.
A subsequent campaign to secure the entire island, Operations Stream, Line and Jane, was opened on 10 September. The Allies broke into the interior, linking up with forces on the coast and secured the island by the end of October. Fighting ceased and an armistice was granted on 6 November. This was the first big operation by the Alliescombining sea, land and air forces.The island was placed underFree Frenchcontrol. (Full article...)
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Antananarivo(French:Tananarive,pronounced[tananaʁiv]), also known by its colonial shorthand formTana(pronounced[tana]), is thecapitaland largest city ofMadagascar.The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ( "Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "Antananarivo-Capital" ), is the capital ofAnalamangaregion. The city sits at 1,280 m (4,199 ft) above sea level in the center of the island, thehighest national capital by elevationamong theisland countries.It has been the country's largest population center since at least the 18th century. Thepresidency,National Assembly,Senate,and Supreme Court are located there, as are21 diplomatic missionsand the headquarters of many national and international businesses andNGOs.It has more universities, nightclubs, art venues, and medical services than any city on the island. Several national and local sports teams, including the championship-winning nationalrugbyteam, theMakis,are based here.
Antananarivo was historically the capital of theMerina people,who continue to form the majority of the city's 1,274,225 (2018 Census) inhabitants. The surrounding urban areas have a total metropolitan population approaching three million. All eighteenMalagasy ethnic groups,as well as residents ofChinese,Indian,European,and other origins, are represented in the city. It was founded circa 1610, when the Merina KingAndrianjaka(1612–1630) expelled theVazimbainhabitants of the village ofAnalamanga.Declaring it the site of his capital, Andrianjaka built arova(fortified royal dwelling) that expanded to become theroyal palacesof theKingdom of Imerina.The city retained the name Analamanga until the reign of KingAndriamasinavalona(1675–1710), who renamed it Antananarivo ( "City of the Thousand" ) in honor of Andrianjaka's soldiers. (Full article...)
Image 3Historical change in per capita GDP of Madagascar since 1950 (fromMadagascar)
Image 4Thetaro(saonjoin Malagasy) is, according to an old Malagasy proverb, "the elder of the rice" (Ny saonjo no zokin'ny vary), and was also a staple diet for the proto-Austronesians (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 7National monument inMoramangacommemorating the beginning of theMalagasy Uprisingon 29 March 1947. Between 11,000 and 90,000 Malagasy died during the uprising which lasted nearly two years. (fromMadagascar)
Image 10A street vendor selling fresh potato chips and traditionalkaka pizonsnacks (fromCulture of Madagascar)
Image 11Malagasyancestry reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian and Bantu (Southeast African) roots. (fromMadagascar)
Image 12Radama I, the first monarch of the kingdom unified central Madagascar. (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 13Map of Madagascar and the western portion of the East Indies, circa 1702–1707 (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 14Landing of the40th Battaillon de Chasseur à PiedsinMajunga,between 5 May and 24 May 1895. (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 15Matatana, represented in a picture of 1613, regarding a settlement of the beginning of the 16th century, in the Book of Humberto Leitão "(fromMadagascar)
Image 26Malagasy Embassy to Europe in 1863. Left to right: Rainifiringa Ralaimaholy, Rev. John Duffus and Rasatranabo aka Rainandrianandraina. (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 27In many places oxcarts are an important medium of transport, like inAmbatolampy(fromMadagascar)
Image 28A news stand in Antananarivo (fromMadagascar)
Image 29Rex and Riz cinemas in Antananarivo, Madagascar. (fromCulture of Madagascar)
Image 31Moraingyis a traditional martial art of Madagascar. (fromMadagascar)
Image 32A Sumatran village showing several traditional houses (Malagasylevu). Thevahoaka ntaolovillages of Madagascar were probably similar in the first millennium AD. This model is still currently present on every coast and in the remote inland areas and forests. (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 33Moraingy is a traditional martial art of Madagascar. (fromCulture of Madagascar)
Image 40Vaγimba- "Those of the forest" in Proto–Southeast Barito, the reconstructed ancestor of the SoutheastBarito languages,which includes the languages spoken by theDayakpeoples of theBarito RiverinBorneo(pictured) (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 41An Austronesianoutrigger canoe;Malagasyvahoaka"people" is fromProto-Malayo-Polynesian*va-waka"people of the canoe". TheVahoaka Ntaolo,the first Austronesian ancestors of the Malagasy, probably used similar canoes to reach the great island from theSunda Islands(fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 44Canoe-sarcophagus of the Dayak: a burial that recalls the Malagasy tradition that former Ntaolo Vazimba and Vezo buried their dead in canoe-sarcophagi in the sea or in a lake (fromHistory of Madagascar)
Image 45Madagascar—Gathering of The People for The Making of Laws (LMS, 1869, p.52) (fromHistory of Madagascar)
