History of Angola

Angola is a country in southwestern Africa. The country's name derives from the Kimbundu word for king. It was first settled by San hunter-gatherer societies before the northern domains came under the rule of Bantu states such as Kongo and Ndongo. From the 15th century, Portuguese colonists began trading, and a settlement was established at Luanda during the 16th century. Portugal annexed territories in the region which were ruled as a colony from 1655, and Angola was incorporated as an overseas province of Portugal in 1951. After the Angolan War of Independence which ended with an army mutiny and leftist coup in Lisbon, Angola's independence was achieved on November 11, 1975 through the Alvor Agreement. After independence, Angola later entered a period of civil war that lasted up until 2002.

From prehistory to the sovereign country

The area of current day Angola was inhabited during the paleolithic and neolithic eras, as attested by remains found in Luanda, Congo, and the Namibe desert. At the beginning of recorded history other cultures and people also arrived.

Angola

Coordinates: 12°30′S 18°30′E / 12.500°S 18.500°E / -12.500; 18.500

Angola /æŋˈɡoʊlə/, officially the Republic of Angola (Portuguese: República de Angola pronounced: [ɐ̃ˈɡɔlɐ]; Kikongo, Kimbundu and Umbundu: Repubilika ya Ngola), is a country in Southern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa, and is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to west. The exclave province of Cabinda has borders with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital and largest city is Luanda.

Although its territory has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era, modern Angola originates in Portuguese colonization, which began with, and was for centuries limited to, coastal settlements and trading posts established from the 16th century onwards. In the 19th century, European settlers slowly and hesitantly began to establish themselves in the interior. As a Portuguese colony, Angola did not encompass its present borders until the early 20th century, following resistance by groups such as the Cuamato, the Kwanyama and the Mbunda. Independence was achieved in 1975 after a protracted liberation war. That same year, Angola descended into an intense civil war that lasted until 2002. It has since become a relatively stable unitary presidential republic.

Portuguese Angola

Portuguese Angola or Portuguese West Africa are the common terms by which Angola is designated when referring to the historic period when it was a Portuguese overseas territory in southwestern Africa. The former Portuguese Angola became an independent country in 1975 and now forms the Republic of Angola.

During its history of 400 years, Portuguese Angola had the following formal designations: Donee of the Kingdom of Sebaste (1575-1588) Captaincy-General of the Kingdom of Angola (1588-1834), Province of Angola (1834-1926), Colony of Angola (1926-1951), Province of Angola (1951-1972) and State of Angola (1972-1975). It is to note that the term "Colony of Angola" began to be used occasionally since 1914, but only in 1926 it completely replaced the designation "Province of Angola".

History

The history of Portuguese presence on the territory of contemporary Angola lasted from the arrival of the explorer Diogo Cão in 1484 until the decolonization of the territory in 1975. During these five centuries, several entirely different situations have to be distinguished.

Angola (Book of Mormon)

Angola (/ænˈɡoʊ.lə/) is a city mentioned in the Book of Mormon. It was located near or in the north countries and was the site of a portion of the long and final battle between the Nephites and the Lamanites.

The city is identified in only one verse, Mormon 2:4. The Nephites retreated towards the north countries and came to Angola and fortified the city during the period of A.C. 327–328, but were unable to withstand the Lamanites' attacks and were driven from the city.Mormon 2:5 might be interpreted in such a way as to suggest that Angola was located somewhere in the land of David.

It has been argued that Joseph Smith named the Book of Mormon city after Angola, New York.Mormon apologists have pointed out that while the Book of Mormon was first published in 1830, the New York settlement did not adopt the name "Angola" until 1855.

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