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Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa
Southern Africa was once regarded as a worthless jumble of British colonies, Boer republics, and African chiefdoms, a troublesome region of little interest to the outside world. But then prospectors chanced first upon the world's richest deposits of diamonds, and then upon its richest deposits of gold. What followed was a titanic struggle between the British and the Boers for control of the land, culminating in the costliest, bloodiest, and most humiliating war that Britain had waged in nearly a century, and in the devastation of the Boer republics. Martin Meredith's magisterial account of those years portrays the great wealth and raw power, the deceit, corruption, and racism that lay behind Britain's empire-building in southern Africa. Based on significant new research and filled with atmospheric detail, it focuses on the fascinating rivalry between diamond titan Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger, the Boer leader whose only education was the Bible, who believed the earth was flat, yet who defied Britain's prime ministers and generals for nearly a quarter of a century. Diamonds, Gold and War makes palpable the cost of western greed to Africa's native peoples, and explains the rise of the virulent Afrikaner nationalism that eventually took hold in South Africa, with repercussions lasting nearly a century.
570 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
245 people are currently reading
2892 people want to read
About the author
Martin Meredith
20 books249 followersMartin Meredith is a historian, journalist and biographer, and author of many acclaimed books on Africa.
Meredith first worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa for the Observer and Sunday Times, then as a research fellow at St Antony’s College, Oxford. Residing near Oxford, he is now an independent commentator and author.
Meredith’s writing has been described as authoritative and well-documented, despite the pessimism inherent in his subject matter.
He is the author of Diamonds, Gold and War, Mugabe: Power, Plunder – which sold over 15 000 copies in South Africa, and The Struggle for Zimbabwe’s Future, The State of Africa and Nelson Mandela: A Biography, among many others.
His most recent book is Born in Africa, published by Jonathan Ball Publishers.
Meredith first worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa for the Observer and Sunday Times, then as a research fellow at St Antony’s College, Oxford. Residing near Oxford, he is now an independent commentator and author.
Meredith’s writing has been described as authoritative and well-documented, despite the pessimism inherent in his subject matter.
He is the author of Diamonds, Gold and War, Mugabe: Power, Plunder – which sold over 15 000 copies in South Africa, and The Struggle for Zimbabwe’s Future, The State of Africa and Nelson Mandela: A Biography, among many others.
His most recent book is Born in Africa, published by Jonathan Ball Publishers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
August 2, 2011
I thought it might be a boer, but it was pretty good
August 14, 2015
Let us admit it fairly, as a business people should,
We have had no end of a lesson: it will do us no end of good.
-- Rudyard Kipling, on the Boer War
The British Empire was at the height of its arrogance in the late 1800s, but hardly at the height of its competence, if we judge its disastrous performance in South Africa.
Consider the evidence:
After invading the Zulu territory with no real justification, the British military failed to construct even the most rudimentary defense of its key encampment, leading to a slaughter as the Zulus "washed their spears" in British blood at Isandlwana. A rare example where bringing spears to a gunfight actually paid off. This is the first inept British military performance discussed in this book, but it's only a precursor of far worse to come.
As elsewhere in Africa at the time, the British wanted to control territory, but did not want the cost associated with running new and potentially unprofitable colonies, so they outsourced the colonization to private companies, in this case Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company. Rhodes was a megalomaniac whose vision was a British "Cape to Cairo" corridor spanning the entire continent. What could possibly go wrong?
Rhodes' company, without any apparent evidence, convinced themselves (or at least convinced their shareholders) that the Matabele and Mashona tribal lands to the north were rich in gold, and therefore should naturally be in British hands. When it turned out that the land contained scant gold, and that all of the viable farm land was already under African ownership, it was clear what needed to be done: take the Africans' land and turn them into menial laborers, killing those who refused to get with the new program. And, speaking of pesky neighbors, why not invade the Boer colony to the south while we're at it?
Right, I hadn't mentioned the Boers yet. A dour group of conservative religious Dutch farmers, unhappy with the control of Cape Colony by the heathen British, had migrated (it turns out that "trek" is an Afrikaans word) northward and formed two colonies of their own, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. The Orange Free State was initially the more prosperous of the two, while the Transvaal was a hardscrabble frontier region which, as was discovered in the 1880s, just happened to sit atop the most valuable gold deposits in the world.
The Transvaal was governed by one Paul Kruger, who was a Calvinist peasant farmer at heart, and was none too pleased with the ensuing gold rush, especially as the newcomers (uitlanders) were disproportionately British. He let them dig their gold without too much interference, although any interference was of course too much for the miners' tastes. Of course, as the newcomers were not citizens of the Transvaal, they did not have the right to elect a more congenial government.
These uitlander "grievances" (a bit too much regulation and not being allowed to vote in the foreign country where they were being allowed to mine) formed the flimsiest possible excuse for not one but two invasions of the Transvaal.
The first invasion was a laughable attempt at a land grab, staged by one Starr Jameson, the head of Rhodesia (as Rhodes' colony to the north was now called). His invasion army could not even properly be called an army, formed as it was by the majority of Rhodesia's police force. The uitlanders, who were expected to rise up and join the revolution, decided upon reflection that they were not really so unhappy with the Boers, and didn't like the possible disruption of income that a war might cause, so for the most part they stayed out of it. (Meanwhile, the Matebele and Mashona back in Rhodesia took advantage of the lack of police presence, killing hundreds of white settlers while the killing was good.)
The Boers, whose staunch Christianity did not extend to honoring the "thou shalt not kill" doctrine, were battle-hardened after years of fighting the Zulus and other African tribes within and adjacent to their colonies. (It turns out that "commando" is another word derived from the Afrikaans.) Needless to say, Jameson and his band of brothers were promptly seized and arrested. Kruger magnanimously handed them over to the British for punishment, and they were promptly freed with a slap on the wrist.
The second, much larger invasion, better known as the Boer War, was the brainchild of the British-installed colonial high commander, Alfred Milner, another would-be "paint the continent British red" advocate, who bristled at having to share southern Africa with the Boers, and once again seized upon the plight of the uitlanders. He offered Kruger an ultimatum: let the uitlanders vote, so they can install a British government in your place, or we will invade. Kruger unsurprisingly didn't think that was a fair deal, and opted for war. His Orange Free State counterpart, Martinus Steyn decided to join the war rather than remaining neutral, and this decision was an important one since Steyn's generals turned out to be a lot more tenacious than Kruger's.
Consequently, the war dragged on for over three years. The British fielded nearly half a million troops against a much smaller Boer army. But the Boers outmaneuvered and evaded the Brits wherever possible, opting for commando/guerilla tactics against the bloated British columns. The British recognized that they were never going to prevail militarily against this sort of army, so they in effect declared war on the Boer civilians, burning their farms, scorching their earth, and imprisoning them in concentration camps - where a significant portion of the prisoners died from disease and malnutrition - or simply leaving them to roam homeless through the countryside.
In this way, the Boers were eventually ground down, and they gave up the fight. The control of their colonies was surrendered to the British, who didn't really want the responsibility and handed it right back to the Boers a few years later. (No, I'm not making that up.) Fast-forward past the end of this book, and the Boers end up running South Africa for most of the 20th century, imposing their own special view of racial relations (even more benighted than that of the British) upon the country. This somewhat reduces any inclination to feel sorry for the Boers in response to their harsh treatment by the British.
Meredith's book tells this whole story and a lot more, with plenty of detail about not only the political and military machinations, but also the mining camps, and how Cecil Rhodes and his fellow capitalists formed their empires. Well worth reading for anyone even slightly interested in this fascinating corner of the world.
We have had no end of a lesson: it will do us no end of good.
-- Rudyard Kipling, on the Boer War
The British Empire was at the height of its arrogance in the late 1800s, but hardly at the height of its competence, if we judge its disastrous performance in South Africa.
Consider the evidence:
After invading the Zulu territory with no real justification, the British military failed to construct even the most rudimentary defense of its key encampment, leading to a slaughter as the Zulus "washed their spears" in British blood at Isandlwana. A rare example where bringing spears to a gunfight actually paid off. This is the first inept British military performance discussed in this book, but it's only a precursor of far worse to come.
As elsewhere in Africa at the time, the British wanted to control territory, but did not want the cost associated with running new and potentially unprofitable colonies, so they outsourced the colonization to private companies, in this case Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company. Rhodes was a megalomaniac whose vision was a British "Cape to Cairo" corridor spanning the entire continent. What could possibly go wrong?
Rhodes' company, without any apparent evidence, convinced themselves (or at least convinced their shareholders) that the Matabele and Mashona tribal lands to the north were rich in gold, and therefore should naturally be in British hands. When it turned out that the land contained scant gold, and that all of the viable farm land was already under African ownership, it was clear what needed to be done: take the Africans' land and turn them into menial laborers, killing those who refused to get with the new program. And, speaking of pesky neighbors, why not invade the Boer colony to the south while we're at it?
Right, I hadn't mentioned the Boers yet. A dour group of conservative religious Dutch farmers, unhappy with the control of Cape Colony by the heathen British, had migrated (it turns out that "trek" is an Afrikaans word) northward and formed two colonies of their own, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. The Orange Free State was initially the more prosperous of the two, while the Transvaal was a hardscrabble frontier region which, as was discovered in the 1880s, just happened to sit atop the most valuable gold deposits in the world.
The Transvaal was governed by one Paul Kruger, who was a Calvinist peasant farmer at heart, and was none too pleased with the ensuing gold rush, especially as the newcomers (uitlanders) were disproportionately British. He let them dig their gold without too much interference, although any interference was of course too much for the miners' tastes. Of course, as the newcomers were not citizens of the Transvaal, they did not have the right to elect a more congenial government.
These uitlander "grievances" (a bit too much regulation and not being allowed to vote in the foreign country where they were being allowed to mine) formed the flimsiest possible excuse for not one but two invasions of the Transvaal.
The first invasion was a laughable attempt at a land grab, staged by one Starr Jameson, the head of Rhodesia (as Rhodes' colony to the north was now called). His invasion army could not even properly be called an army, formed as it was by the majority of Rhodesia's police force. The uitlanders, who were expected to rise up and join the revolution, decided upon reflection that they were not really so unhappy with the Boers, and didn't like the possible disruption of income that a war might cause, so for the most part they stayed out of it. (Meanwhile, the Matebele and Mashona back in Rhodesia took advantage of the lack of police presence, killing hundreds of white settlers while the killing was good.)
The Boers, whose staunch Christianity did not extend to honoring the "thou shalt not kill" doctrine, were battle-hardened after years of fighting the Zulus and other African tribes within and adjacent to their colonies. (It turns out that "commando" is another word derived from the Afrikaans.) Needless to say, Jameson and his band of brothers were promptly seized and arrested. Kruger magnanimously handed them over to the British for punishment, and they were promptly freed with a slap on the wrist.
The second, much larger invasion, better known as the Boer War, was the brainchild of the British-installed colonial high commander, Alfred Milner, another would-be "paint the continent British red" advocate, who bristled at having to share southern Africa with the Boers, and once again seized upon the plight of the uitlanders. He offered Kruger an ultimatum: let the uitlanders vote, so they can install a British government in your place, or we will invade. Kruger unsurprisingly didn't think that was a fair deal, and opted for war. His Orange Free State counterpart, Martinus Steyn decided to join the war rather than remaining neutral, and this decision was an important one since Steyn's generals turned out to be a lot more tenacious than Kruger's.
Consequently, the war dragged on for over three years. The British fielded nearly half a million troops against a much smaller Boer army. But the Boers outmaneuvered and evaded the Brits wherever possible, opting for commando/guerilla tactics against the bloated British columns. The British recognized that they were never going to prevail militarily against this sort of army, so they in effect declared war on the Boer civilians, burning their farms, scorching their earth, and imprisoning them in concentration camps - where a significant portion of the prisoners died from disease and malnutrition - or simply leaving them to roam homeless through the countryside.
In this way, the Boers were eventually ground down, and they gave up the fight. The control of their colonies was surrendered to the British, who didn't really want the responsibility and handed it right back to the Boers a few years later. (No, I'm not making that up.) Fast-forward past the end of this book, and the Boers end up running South Africa for most of the 20th century, imposing their own special view of racial relations (even more benighted than that of the British) upon the country. This somewhat reduces any inclination to feel sorry for the Boers in response to their harsh treatment by the British.
Meredith's book tells this whole story and a lot more, with plenty of detail about not only the political and military machinations, but also the mining camps, and how Cecil Rhodes and his fellow capitalists formed their empires. Well worth reading for anyone even slightly interested in this fascinating corner of the world.
September 17, 2018
Apt Title of the Year! Gold on the Cape & Diamonds in the Transvaal & that's all there really is to the British annexation of the Boer republics.
Not that Kruger was adverse to mining and industry... He & Cecil Rhodes serve as a red thread rivalry in a series of events that will be mostly familiar to military historians via the trinity of Zulu War, Majuba, (2nd) Boer War. The British come off as damned if they do, damned if they don't:
" Wolseley assumed that such a demonstration of imperial might would have a salutary effecr on the restless mood of the Tranvaal Boers. But by crushing both Cetshawayo and [Swazi] Sekhukhune, the British had liberated them from the two greatest threats to their security. They now saw a new opportunity to get rid of the British."
While the indigenous resistance to Boer intrusion looks well beyond the Zulus to the last defiance by the Pedi, it's still a very white story until a short chapter on the legal framework by which the newly united colonies formalised Apartheid. Young Ghandi's in it as of 1893; he'd have made a good figurehead for this part of the narrative.
Not that Kruger was adverse to mining and industry... He & Cecil Rhodes serve as a red thread rivalry in a series of events that will be mostly familiar to military historians via the trinity of Zulu War, Majuba, (2nd) Boer War. The British come off as damned if they do, damned if they don't:
" Wolseley assumed that such a demonstration of imperial might would have a salutary effecr on the restless mood of the Tranvaal Boers. But by crushing both Cetshawayo and [Swazi] Sekhukhune, the British had liberated them from the two greatest threats to their security. They now saw a new opportunity to get rid of the British."
While the indigenous resistance to Boer intrusion looks well beyond the Zulus to the last defiance by the Pedi, it's still a very white story until a short chapter on the legal framework by which the newly united colonies formalised Apartheid. Young Ghandi's in it as of 1893; he'd have made a good figurehead for this part of the narrative.
May 10, 2013
Very few histories of this depth and detail can sustain 500+ pages and keep the reader as engaged as though s/he were reading a thriller. This book is one of them.
Some of Martin Meredith's talent is in describing the main characters. Portraits of Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger are masterpieces. His other talent is describing the settings for instance, the respective cultures of the settlers, the freewheeling diamond/gold rushes and the devastation of war. The marvelous descriptions sustain the reader through the dry but important financial dealings, military maneuvers, and legal complexities.
There are very few women in this book. Queen Victoria gets a few mentions, as does a female novelist, Paul Kruger's traditional wife and a stalker attracted to Rhodes. The plight of the Boar women left homeless and confined in camps is addressed, but there is nothing of the native African women. Hopefully future historians will explore the lives and roles of women in this period.
Two things about the history of South Africa are striking. One is how a very small number of people in key positions wanting war made it inevitable that many would suffer its devastating consequences. The other is the total racism of the Bible quoting Boars and the acquiescence of the British government to their racist demands. The Archbishop of Canterbury endorses what becomes the apartheid system with the salve to his conscience that the future will undo it.
This is a sorry, sorry story. It is a story of the making and execution of a completely unnecessary war and a step by step degradation of a native population.
Some of Martin Meredith's talent is in describing the main characters. Portraits of Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger are masterpieces. His other talent is describing the settings for instance, the respective cultures of the settlers, the freewheeling diamond/gold rushes and the devastation of war. The marvelous descriptions sustain the reader through the dry but important financial dealings, military maneuvers, and legal complexities.
There are very few women in this book. Queen Victoria gets a few mentions, as does a female novelist, Paul Kruger's traditional wife and a stalker attracted to Rhodes. The plight of the Boar women left homeless and confined in camps is addressed, but there is nothing of the native African women. Hopefully future historians will explore the lives and roles of women in this period.
Two things about the history of South Africa are striking. One is how a very small number of people in key positions wanting war made it inevitable that many would suffer its devastating consequences. The other is the total racism of the Bible quoting Boars and the acquiescence of the British government to their racist demands. The Archbishop of Canterbury endorses what becomes the apartheid system with the salve to his conscience that the future will undo it.
This is a sorry, sorry story. It is a story of the making and execution of a completely unnecessary war and a step by step degradation of a native population.
July 27, 2024
Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa by Martin Meredith is a phenomenal contribution to a fairly limited historical archive detailing the establishment and expansionist aims of the British Empire in South Africa (adding to its already immensely hubristic colonial ambitions of that time). I say limited, although if I am incorrect in this, I would love some more book recommendations on African civilization and colonization throughout the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries, since they seem to be lacking in quantity.
This book was recommended to me by my GR pal (shoutout to Brendan) after inquiring to him about further readings into what events helped to shape the current state and system of governance.
As most are undoubtedly aware - or at least, not at all surprised to hear - the lure of precious minerals in the late nineteenth century is what ultimately convinced the British to establish a permanent colony in an area which had previously been seen to have limited economic/geopolitical value, save for some important naval trading hubs.
What most are not aware of, however, is the sheer insanity that went on behind the scenes in establishing control over the Indigenous peoples as well as the Boer population which resided there before the British started to see the importance. The narrative is driven by many characters, but most noticeably, Cecil Rhodes of the British Empire, and Paul Kruger of the Boer settlers (mostly a Dutch settler population with rather distinct - bizarre, to the British - religious views, who were content to live a rather simple agricultural life).
The main conflict begins to occur when Cecil Rhodes, a British citizen desperate for power, starts to complain to the British Crown - who has remained largely uninterested in Africa up until this point - that "uitlander" grievances are causing unnecessary unrest, thanks in part to the native Afrikaner tribes taking up land that should obviously be reserved for British settlers, as well as the bigger problem of the Afrikaner chiefs of the main tribes not allowing certain individuals to dig for precious minerals on their land, or only giving them limited access to these lands.
Even after inviting the chief of the Zulu tribe for an audience with Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace, who assured him and his people that the Crown would not start a war with the native population or seek to displace them of their homes or any of their rights, eventually, once the appearance of diamonds causes a massive rush to "get-rich-quick" by diamond mining (and eventually gold mining) in those areas, it's clear that the promises are empty.
Presenting an even bigger problem was the Transvaal government, overseen by the Boers, who refused to fly the Union Jack flag over their city. This was where Rhodes and other Britons were able to express their "indignation" to the Crown on behalf of the foreign British population (a.k.a., the uitlanders) not receiving the same right to housing and voting representation in a country and land that... well, wasn't theirs. In truth, since few government officials from England had visited the area, these claims of unrest and grievances by fellow Brits were considerably exaggerated. But hey, they needed some rational explanation for starting a war, right?
The war itself - against both Afrikaner tribes and the Boers themselves - was largely disastrous. The British, as arrogant as always, presumed they could easily just march in (without any real preparations or military strategy, led by inefficient and unexperienced military men) and take over. What resulted was a protracted war, and the loss of many initial British lives, who only began to see their fortunes reversed once it was obvious they could simply overpower both Afrikaners and Boers in sheer number alone.
There wasn't much the British foreigners and Dutch settlers could agree upon, but apparently one issue they didn't hesitate on was to deprive the remaining Afrikaner peoples of their voting rights, land, possessions, and jobs, regulating them to instead work as laborers on the very farms and large areas of land they grabbed from them (as well as the most dangerous and lowest-paying jobs in the diamond industry - in the deep mines, of course).
Cecil Rhodes epitomes the power hungry, diamond obsessed, British colonist of the era. His manipulation and obsession over constantly attaining more and making a name for himself in history was evident in nearly every action he took, and as it's clear from the writings in this book, he was massively successful in this undertaking. It seems a lot more complex than it actually is when I describe it (lol) but isn't difficult to understand once you start reading yourself.
While I don't exactly agree with some reviewers that it reads like an action novel, it doesn't read as a boring recitation of the phone book either (at least, that's what one unfavorable review thought). You don't have to know much about African history in this time period to read and enjoy this book, either. What you should enjoy though, is acquiring more knowledge of history, especially concerning African colonization. It likely does require someone with a relatively high degree of interest in learning as much as possible about the world to enjoy these types of books. To those people I'd certainly recommend it, but not to those looking for a quick, page-turning read about scandal and brutality. Not that it doesn't have all of that, because it certainly does (unfortunately) but it's not as sensationalized as some readers might hope.
4.25 stars.
This book was recommended to me by my GR pal (shoutout to Brendan) after inquiring to him about further readings into what events helped to shape the current state and system of governance.
As most are undoubtedly aware - or at least, not at all surprised to hear - the lure of precious minerals in the late nineteenth century is what ultimately convinced the British to establish a permanent colony in an area which had previously been seen to have limited economic/geopolitical value, save for some important naval trading hubs.
What most are not aware of, however, is the sheer insanity that went on behind the scenes in establishing control over the Indigenous peoples as well as the Boer population which resided there before the British started to see the importance. The narrative is driven by many characters, but most noticeably, Cecil Rhodes of the British Empire, and Paul Kruger of the Boer settlers (mostly a Dutch settler population with rather distinct - bizarre, to the British - religious views, who were content to live a rather simple agricultural life).
The main conflict begins to occur when Cecil Rhodes, a British citizen desperate for power, starts to complain to the British Crown - who has remained largely uninterested in Africa up until this point - that "uitlander" grievances are causing unnecessary unrest, thanks in part to the native Afrikaner tribes taking up land that should obviously be reserved for British settlers, as well as the bigger problem of the Afrikaner chiefs of the main tribes not allowing certain individuals to dig for precious minerals on their land, or only giving them limited access to these lands.
Even after inviting the chief of the Zulu tribe for an audience with Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace, who assured him and his people that the Crown would not start a war with the native population or seek to displace them of their homes or any of their rights, eventually, once the appearance of diamonds causes a massive rush to "get-rich-quick" by diamond mining (and eventually gold mining) in those areas, it's clear that the promises are empty.
Presenting an even bigger problem was the Transvaal government, overseen by the Boers, who refused to fly the Union Jack flag over their city. This was where Rhodes and other Britons were able to express their "indignation" to the Crown on behalf of the foreign British population (a.k.a., the uitlanders) not receiving the same right to housing and voting representation in a country and land that... well, wasn't theirs. In truth, since few government officials from England had visited the area, these claims of unrest and grievances by fellow Brits were considerably exaggerated. But hey, they needed some rational explanation for starting a war, right?
The war itself - against both Afrikaner tribes and the Boers themselves - was largely disastrous. The British, as arrogant as always, presumed they could easily just march in (without any real preparations or military strategy, led by inefficient and unexperienced military men) and take over. What resulted was a protracted war, and the loss of many initial British lives, who only began to see their fortunes reversed once it was obvious they could simply overpower both Afrikaners and Boers in sheer number alone.
There wasn't much the British foreigners and Dutch settlers could agree upon, but apparently one issue they didn't hesitate on was to deprive the remaining Afrikaner peoples of their voting rights, land, possessions, and jobs, regulating them to instead work as laborers on the very farms and large areas of land they grabbed from them (as well as the most dangerous and lowest-paying jobs in the diamond industry - in the deep mines, of course).
Cecil Rhodes epitomes the power hungry, diamond obsessed, British colonist of the era. His manipulation and obsession over constantly attaining more and making a name for himself in history was evident in nearly every action he took, and as it's clear from the writings in this book, he was massively successful in this undertaking. It seems a lot more complex than it actually is when I describe it (lol) but isn't difficult to understand once you start reading yourself.
While I don't exactly agree with some reviewers that it reads like an action novel, it doesn't read as a boring recitation of the phone book either (at least, that's what one unfavorable review thought). You don't have to know much about African history in this time period to read and enjoy this book, either. What you should enjoy though, is acquiring more knowledge of history, especially concerning African colonization. It likely does require someone with a relatively high degree of interest in learning as much as possible about the world to enjoy these types of books. To those people I'd certainly recommend it, but not to those looking for a quick, page-turning read about scandal and brutality. Not that it doesn't have all of that, because it certainly does (unfortunately) but it's not as sensationalized as some readers might hope.
4.25 stars.
February 9, 2015
This book is too well written and researched to give it anything less than 4 stars. However, I do have one complaint, and that is that the book devotes relatively little space to a discussion of black South Africans.
I understand that this book focuses on the "making" of South Africa, and the construct of South Africa as we know it descends from European colonies, and therefore, none of the extensive discussion of the founding of the four colonies that later formed the Union of South Africa strikes me as unimportant.
But what was the black population -- which was the majority in number -- doing during this time? Where did they live? How did they live? How did they react to the Boer War? What did they think of Paul Kruger and Cecil Rhodes? Other than a brief discussion of the Black population in the context of Rhodesia and the epilogue that focuses on the rise of the National party and the road to Apartheid following union, there is relatively little, given that the majority black population now does rule a stable and democratic South Africa. Those who govern South Africa today have family histories worth telling.
That said, such discussions are likely available through other sources, so this is not a fatal flaw for such a detailed history of a fascinating nation.
I understand that this book focuses on the "making" of South Africa, and the construct of South Africa as we know it descends from European colonies, and therefore, none of the extensive discussion of the founding of the four colonies that later formed the Union of South Africa strikes me as unimportant.
But what was the black population -- which was the majority in number -- doing during this time? Where did they live? How did they live? How did they react to the Boer War? What did they think of Paul Kruger and Cecil Rhodes? Other than a brief discussion of the Black population in the context of Rhodesia and the epilogue that focuses on the rise of the National party and the road to Apartheid following union, there is relatively little, given that the majority black population now does rule a stable and democratic South Africa. Those who govern South Africa today have family histories worth telling.
That said, such discussions are likely available through other sources, so this is not a fatal flaw for such a detailed history of a fascinating nation.
January 16, 2012
A tale of rapine dressed up as imperial British patriotism.
I grew up with the impression that Cecil John Rhodes was a somewhat dubious character, but this book corrected me - he was actually appalling.
A must-read for anyone who believes corruption is something the ANC government introduced into South Africa, Rhodes' ability to buy politicians (who arguably are always for sale anyway, but you just need to find their price) is surpassed by his ability to buy journalists, editors and churchmen.
Rhodes' treatment of native Africans also clearly lays the ideological grounds for apartheid, as he pushes the introduction of the migratory labour practices, pass laws and resettlement of natives on unwanted/unproductive land.
Makes you wonder why anyone with principles would aspire to be a Rhodes Scholar, and almost inspired a trip to the Matopo Hills to urinate on his grave.
I grew up with the impression that Cecil John Rhodes was a somewhat dubious character, but this book corrected me - he was actually appalling.
A must-read for anyone who believes corruption is something the ANC government introduced into South Africa, Rhodes' ability to buy politicians (who arguably are always for sale anyway, but you just need to find their price) is surpassed by his ability to buy journalists, editors and churchmen.
Rhodes' treatment of native Africans also clearly lays the ideological grounds for apartheid, as he pushes the introduction of the migratory labour practices, pass laws and resettlement of natives on unwanted/unproductive land.
Makes you wonder why anyone with principles would aspire to be a Rhodes Scholar, and almost inspired a trip to the Matopo Hills to urinate on his grave.
January 13, 2021
Martin Meredith's Diamonds, Gold and War explores the British conquest of South Africa in the late 19th Century. Meredith shows how the British presence in South Africa grew from a few ports in Natal to complete hegemony despite skepticism from London and resistance from natives. Like many parts of the Empire, British expansion in the region was almost accidental: Cape Town and other ports served largely as a waystation for ships traveling to India, with some expansion inland to provide a buffer. Enter Cecil Rhodes, one of the greatest villains of the Victorian Era. Using the discovery of diamonds in Boer-held Transvaal, he established a diamond cartel for personal enrichment while using the resulting threat to British interests to justify expansion. Those natives who couldn't be bought or bullied were conquered outright, either by British arms or by Rhodes' private armies (as in the Jameson Raid). Meredith's book makes it clear, if it wasn't already, that no virtue and little motive beyond greed spurred expansion in this area; if the Zulu, Xhosa and other groups had to suffer, so much the better. The Boers were harder to bring to heel, though Meredith has scant sympathy for them (Paul Kruger is shown, not as a heroic anticolonialist but as a nascent empire-builder himself, scheming ways to rob territory from his black neighbors). Even so it was one of the more sordid episodes in imperial history, which is saying something; a series of wars and massacres purely so that British corporations could make money. Imperialism laid bare, in other words.
February 4, 2024
So what the hell is a Boer? I’ll tell you.
When European nations started sailing around Africa to get to Southeast Asia, they realized they needed a place to stop on the way. South Africa seemed like the perfect spot. Over a whole bunch of decades, white Europeans from Holland, the Netherlands, Germany, etc. populated the area of South Africa for trade. It was a nice spot and basically only served as a stopping off point and not much else.
Until in 1871, diamonds were found. A lot of them. Fifteen years later, gold was found. A lot of it. You can guess what happened when people realized how much money could be made by digging. Just like anywhere else, people began to clash, kill each other, and started taking over swaths of land. Wars broke out and a lot of people were caught in the middle.
Meredith fills in all of the details of the events above in a great narrative. He focuses on some key players, but he adeptly gives the reader vivid visions of what it was like to be sent into one of these mines or to be in the middle of a pitched battle. It covers a lot of ground, so if you are don’t care about the topic at all it may be too much for a non-nerd.
When European nations started sailing around Africa to get to Southeast Asia, they realized they needed a place to stop on the way. South Africa seemed like the perfect spot. Over a whole bunch of decades, white Europeans from Holland, the Netherlands, Germany, etc. populated the area of South Africa for trade. It was a nice spot and basically only served as a stopping off point and not much else.
Until in 1871, diamonds were found. A lot of them. Fifteen years later, gold was found. A lot of it. You can guess what happened when people realized how much money could be made by digging. Just like anywhere else, people began to clash, kill each other, and started taking over swaths of land. Wars broke out and a lot of people were caught in the middle.
Meredith fills in all of the details of the events above in a great narrative. He focuses on some key players, but he adeptly gives the reader vivid visions of what it was like to be sent into one of these mines or to be in the middle of a pitched battle. It covers a lot of ground, so if you are don’t care about the topic at all it may be too much for a non-nerd.
March 3, 2013
I started reading this book because I realized I knew little about the history of South Africa, a multicultural nation which struck me as perhaps being a microcosm of the world -- a wealthy minority among a largely impoverished majority, in a land blessed with natural resources but at the same time resource limited. The Boers also struck me as a tragic people who seemed really tough and certainly gave the British Empire at the absolute zenith of her power a bloody nose.
The story so far is really quite fascinating, focusing on the struggle for control of diamond mines found in the hinterland of South Africa (an anachronistic term) in the second half of the 1860s. The Boers left Cape Colony for the wilderness, hoping to establish their own godly society free of British interference--a move that resonates with our own American history and our own founding stories: Puritans and Massachusetts Bay; Mormons and Deseret. Hardy folk, their fatal flaw was racism/belief in their own superiority over the natives. It is interesting to see how this plays out on multiple fronts: discrimination in the diamond mines which lay the legal foundation for Apartheid, repeated encroachment on native land "safeguarded" by treaties (should sound familiar to Americans).
The emergence of Afrikaaner nationalism based on perceived British heavy-handedness is also a theme that emerges and echoes what happened in the North American colonies in the 18th century and in British India in the 20th.
The ability of an embattled people who perceive being wronged (right or wrong) to resist an on-paper superior force, and the hubris of the supposed superior force is another theme that seems to have played out throughout history. Asymmetry in warfare does not seem to be anything new, and in fact I wonder if it is actually the norm.
So so far, this book has been really fascinating and indeed suggests that South African history can indeed illuminate world history, the former in many ways being a microcosm of the latter.
The story so far is really quite fascinating, focusing on the struggle for control of diamond mines found in the hinterland of South Africa (an anachronistic term) in the second half of the 1860s. The Boers left Cape Colony for the wilderness, hoping to establish their own godly society free of British interference--a move that resonates with our own American history and our own founding stories: Puritans and Massachusetts Bay; Mormons and Deseret. Hardy folk, their fatal flaw was racism/belief in their own superiority over the natives. It is interesting to see how this plays out on multiple fronts: discrimination in the diamond mines which lay the legal foundation for Apartheid, repeated encroachment on native land "safeguarded" by treaties (should sound familiar to Americans).
The emergence of Afrikaaner nationalism based on perceived British heavy-handedness is also a theme that emerges and echoes what happened in the North American colonies in the 18th century and in British India in the 20th.
The ability of an embattled people who perceive being wronged (right or wrong) to resist an on-paper superior force, and the hubris of the supposed superior force is another theme that seems to have played out throughout history. Asymmetry in warfare does not seem to be anything new, and in fact I wonder if it is actually the norm.
So so far, this book has been really fascinating and indeed suggests that South African history can indeed illuminate world history, the former in many ways being a microcosm of the latter.
May 25, 2011
I read this book this past weekend. It is lengthy, over 500 pages, but I couldn't put it down. I have a pretty good knowledge of the colonail history of East Africa, but this read taught me so much about colonial Southern Africa. Prior tor eading this book, I was under the mistaken impression that it was primarily the Boer/Afrikaner population who were responsible for apartheid policies, but it turns out the British were the bad guys too. I never knew so much about Cecil Rhodes, beyond that he was one person responsible for the De Beers diamond monopoly and for Rhodes Scholars, but wow, what a story. This book makes me proud that I never in my life have owned a diamond, and I probably never will; even the antique ones, which definitely were mined based on oppression and corruption.
I have read other African history books by Martin Meredith, and always expect the best. This one didn't disappoint. I am glad that I read this one before I leave for South Africa next week!
I have read other African history books by Martin Meredith, and always expect the best. This one didn't disappoint. I am glad that I read this one before I leave for South Africa next week!
July 23, 2020
This book is a tragedy on several levels. The author clearly has sympathies for the blacks whose realms were destroyed by the forward march of imperialism and who, regardless of their strategies for coping, were unable to turn back the desires of whites for land and profits from resources in the soil that no one had hitherto recognized. It is by no means a simple tale, but instead is immensely complex, and in its complexity the reader is given the freedom to show sympathy or empathy to a variety of peoples and to reflect upon the way in which the response of people to circumstances can often spiral far outside of the desires or plans of the people themselves or anyone else involved in the situation. And it is capable to understand the rationale of people without agreeing with all of what they did, and the capacity to lament the past does not mean rejecting the humanity of anyone involved in the situation. There is room enough in this sprawling epic tale of the founding of South Africa for a great many people to be viewed with compassion, and much depends on the reader's own worldview and context that they bring to this material.
This book is more than 500 pages long and is divided into ten parts and almost fifty chapters. Describing its contents alone would be an immensely tedious task, so I will condense my usual summary of the contents of the chapter and focus on the larger narrative themes, with the note that the book is extremely detailed in its discussion of the behavior of the people involved to the extent that a very lengthy mini-series would be necessary to do justice to the detail involved if it was adapted into visual media. The book begins with the discovery of diamonds in the Boer republics and the change that wrought for Boer efforts to remain free of British domination, in the blacks and whites and others who flowed into the Orange Free State and South African Republic in search of diamonds and later gold and the effects this had on those areas, and on the constant desire of the Boers for more land, which led to a complex race for spoils and led to the destruction of native polities and to an immensely destructive war between the Boers and the British themselves that was preceded by a high degree of tension and a great deal of treachery and skulduggery on the part of Cecil Rhodes, whose treachery of his Boer political allies in the Jameison raid destroyed his political career in South Africa itself. The book ends in the aftermath of the Boer War when the recovery of political freedom led to the loss of political freedom for blacks and the establishment of the forerunner of apartheid.
Freedom is a funny thing. Given my own background and personal history, it is easy for me to identify with the Boer, and to recognize that political freedom is difficult to maintain for remote peoples with a high degree of mistrust in centralized authority when those areas are in the possession of mineral wealth that leads to the development of mining interests and to the importation of labor sources to exploit that and to resulting social tensions. The author's discussion of the divisions within South African whites and blacks and the complex decisions of British imperialists, settler colonists, blacks, coloreds, and Indians, and the desire for self-rule by different parties that meant very different things for the people involved. Britain's desire for empire on the cheap and their consistent underestimation of the fighting prowess of a wide variety of opponents and the desire on the part of the Boer for a freedom for self-rule that simultaneously denied self-rule to blacks whose place within South African society remains ambiguous because they were no more original settlers of much of the land than the Dutch themselves but had in fact migrated to the area at around the same time the Dutch did make this tale a deeply ambivalent one. And whatever one's political worldview and sympathies, there is enough horror in this book to have compassion on all kinds of people who nonetheless found themselves opposed because of the incompatibility of their interests and perspectives in the struggle for economic and political power. Sadly, to a great extent, these matters are still impossible to peacefully navigate or even to honestly acknowledge.
This book is more than 500 pages long and is divided into ten parts and almost fifty chapters. Describing its contents alone would be an immensely tedious task, so I will condense my usual summary of the contents of the chapter and focus on the larger narrative themes, with the note that the book is extremely detailed in its discussion of the behavior of the people involved to the extent that a very lengthy mini-series would be necessary to do justice to the detail involved if it was adapted into visual media. The book begins with the discovery of diamonds in the Boer republics and the change that wrought for Boer efforts to remain free of British domination, in the blacks and whites and others who flowed into the Orange Free State and South African Republic in search of diamonds and later gold and the effects this had on those areas, and on the constant desire of the Boers for more land, which led to a complex race for spoils and led to the destruction of native polities and to an immensely destructive war between the Boers and the British themselves that was preceded by a high degree of tension and a great deal of treachery and skulduggery on the part of Cecil Rhodes, whose treachery of his Boer political allies in the Jameison raid destroyed his political career in South Africa itself. The book ends in the aftermath of the Boer War when the recovery of political freedom led to the loss of political freedom for blacks and the establishment of the forerunner of apartheid.
Freedom is a funny thing. Given my own background and personal history, it is easy for me to identify with the Boer, and to recognize that political freedom is difficult to maintain for remote peoples with a high degree of mistrust in centralized authority when those areas are in the possession of mineral wealth that leads to the development of mining interests and to the importation of labor sources to exploit that and to resulting social tensions. The author's discussion of the divisions within South African whites and blacks and the complex decisions of British imperialists, settler colonists, blacks, coloreds, and Indians, and the desire for self-rule by different parties that meant very different things for the people involved. Britain's desire for empire on the cheap and their consistent underestimation of the fighting prowess of a wide variety of opponents and the desire on the part of the Boer for a freedom for self-rule that simultaneously denied self-rule to blacks whose place within South African society remains ambiguous because they were no more original settlers of much of the land than the Dutch themselves but had in fact migrated to the area at around the same time the Dutch did make this tale a deeply ambivalent one. And whatever one's political worldview and sympathies, there is enough horror in this book to have compassion on all kinds of people who nonetheless found themselves opposed because of the incompatibility of their interests and perspectives in the struggle for economic and political power. Sadly, to a great extent, these matters are still impossible to peacefully navigate or even to honestly acknowledge.
July 9, 2014
This is an outstanding book which tells the story of South Africa from the 19th century up to the mid 20th century. Most of the book focuses on the two men: Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger. Rhodes was a diamond and gold mining entrepreneur who later became prime minister of the Cape Colony. Kruger was the president of the Transvaal Republic of the Boars. The Boars were Dutch settlers who were mainly farmers.
Both the Boars and the English were oppressive to the native tribes of Africa and took advantage of them at every opportunity. Although the British had abolished slavery by this time, they still had strict rules of ownership and social participation as well as harsh punishment for blacks.
I was mostly interested in understanding the Boar war conflict which started right at the turn of the century. The book describes this in the last sections and there is a very detailed build up from the beginning which describes the attitudes and cultural differences which sparked tensions and led to the conflict. Stereotyping and racism appears to me to be one of the main causes as well as warmongering militarists Rhodes and Milner.
One interesting aspect to the seeds of the conflict was the lingering attitude of the British and the United States. There was great fear that South Africa via the Boars could become an independent and powerful United States of South Africa similar to the USA. But in the end, I fail to see how that didn't happen anyway in most respects.
The role of Rudyard Kipling as propagandist is described and his resulting disillusionment after the war. Also the role of Gandhi who fought for the rights of Indians against racism and even organized an ambulance corps during the war.
All in all a fascinating book which tells the story in a very readable fashion. And I see so much which is still relevant to today. If only world leaders could learn.
Both the Boars and the English were oppressive to the native tribes of Africa and took advantage of them at every opportunity. Although the British had abolished slavery by this time, they still had strict rules of ownership and social participation as well as harsh punishment for blacks.
I was mostly interested in understanding the Boar war conflict which started right at the turn of the century. The book describes this in the last sections and there is a very detailed build up from the beginning which describes the attitudes and cultural differences which sparked tensions and led to the conflict. Stereotyping and racism appears to me to be one of the main causes as well as warmongering militarists Rhodes and Milner.
One interesting aspect to the seeds of the conflict was the lingering attitude of the British and the United States. There was great fear that South Africa via the Boars could become an independent and powerful United States of South Africa similar to the USA. But in the end, I fail to see how that didn't happen anyway in most respects.
The role of Rudyard Kipling as propagandist is described and his resulting disillusionment after the war. Also the role of Gandhi who fought for the rights of Indians against racism and even organized an ambulance corps during the war.
All in all a fascinating book which tells the story in a very readable fashion. And I see so much which is still relevant to today. If only world leaders could learn.
May 19, 2015
I picked this to learn about the (Second) Boer War, but ended up learning about the broader political history of South Africa. There was some on the war--just five chapters near the end of a 47 chapter book. So I heard about the Boers' early strikes into the Natal and Cape Colony, the sieges that seemed so promising for them but became the undoing of their "conventional" military campaign. Then the British success that was hampered by continued Boer guerrilla warfare until exhaustion/collapse. I got a little bit about the military leadership & equipment, but not so much. No significant campaign maps.
Most of the rest of the book I listened to was the long socio-economic differences between the Boer republics and British colonies. In particular, Rhodes' & others' broad strategic view. Plenty on Kruger, too.
As an (ignorant!?) American, the fascinating part for me was the distinctions made between self-governing colonies, Imperial (Crown?) colonies, and so on. Similarly, Meredith referred to direct comparisons made at the time between the future of southern Africa, and the then-recent confederation of Canada. Somehow it never really sunk in with me that Canada existed well into the 19th century as a collection of colonies. The French-speaking, Catholic province of Quebec was part of a Canadian Confederation, a British Dominion that seemed to provide a blueprint for possible multi-ethnic British confederation that included Boers in southern Africa...it makes my 21st century head swim, honestly. (Just typing that sentence I had to keep checking another browser window to check on my terminology.) It both makes some sense, and demonstrates amazing imperial hubris that is cautionary even today.
Most of the rest of the book I listened to was the long socio-economic differences between the Boer republics and British colonies. In particular, Rhodes' & others' broad strategic view. Plenty on Kruger, too.
As an (ignorant!?) American, the fascinating part for me was the distinctions made between self-governing colonies, Imperial (Crown?) colonies, and so on. Similarly, Meredith referred to direct comparisons made at the time between the future of southern Africa, and the then-recent confederation of Canada. Somehow it never really sunk in with me that Canada existed well into the 19th century as a collection of colonies. The French-speaking, Catholic province of Quebec was part of a Canadian Confederation, a British Dominion that seemed to provide a blueprint for possible multi-ethnic British confederation that included Boers in southern Africa...it makes my 21st century head swim, honestly. (Just typing that sentence I had to keep checking another browser window to check on my terminology.) It both makes some sense, and demonstrates amazing imperial hubris that is cautionary even today.
August 5, 2016
While dense, this is a great book for the basics of South Africa’s rich history. The book begins with the colonization of South Africa by the British during the Napoleonic wars for naval reasons, setting the stage for the further exodus of the white, indigenous Afrikaner population into inland Africa. However, the bulk of the book covers the period from 1870 – 1910 encompassing how “Diamond and Gold” deposit discoveries led to the Boer Wars and saddening tensions between the British (Cecil Rhodes) and Boers (Paul Kruger).
I love the description of how the indigenous farmers were living upon the largest deposits of diamonds and gold ever discovered and had no idea. The De Beers family sold their land above ancient erupted volcanos with the richest concentration in the world of diamond deposits for a meager $6k, obviously not realizing the bargain until months later when a mad rush to South Africa from “get rich quick” immigrants from Europe ensued.
All along, the book lays the foundation for what led to Apartheid although not its main focus. The roots of the 20th century really began in 1670’s with the arrival of the Dutch in the Cape, but this book focuses on the British control and how the scramble for land rights (particularly on top of diamond and gold deposits) led to conflict between the indigenous land owners (both white burghers and free blacks) and white British Company industrialists.
The last third of the book is about the inexorable drumbeat to war between the Boers and British. The British seeking colonial expansion further inland over the Transvaal and Orange Free State, and the revolts from the Boers led by Paul Kruger. What the British thought would be a simple, fast and cheap war ended up being a much longer and brutal war.
I love the description of how the indigenous farmers were living upon the largest deposits of diamonds and gold ever discovered and had no idea. The De Beers family sold their land above ancient erupted volcanos with the richest concentration in the world of diamond deposits for a meager $6k, obviously not realizing the bargain until months later when a mad rush to South Africa from “get rich quick” immigrants from Europe ensued.
All along, the book lays the foundation for what led to Apartheid although not its main focus. The roots of the 20th century really began in 1670’s with the arrival of the Dutch in the Cape, but this book focuses on the British control and how the scramble for land rights (particularly on top of diamond and gold deposits) led to conflict between the indigenous land owners (both white burghers and free blacks) and white British Company industrialists.
The last third of the book is about the inexorable drumbeat to war between the Boers and British. The British seeking colonial expansion further inland over the Transvaal and Orange Free State, and the revolts from the Boers led by Paul Kruger. What the British thought would be a simple, fast and cheap war ended up being a much longer and brutal war.
July 6, 2024
A riveting and informative history!
February 24, 2015
I listened to the audiobook version during and after my first trip to South Africa so I had a good sense of the geography. Without a map in your mind it can get confusing to follow. This is mostly the Cecil Rhodes story, but touches on many other "great" white men that shaped the politics that ultimately led to Apartheid. This is a white South African history with references to black leaders and tribes sporadically through the book. Probably the best way to get a feel for how these men perceived black natives - as a secondary thought and obstacle to white African domination. Having seen the settlements first hand, it is clear their impact lives on.
April 11, 2013
If you are really, really, really interested in South Africa history, then this is an excellent book.
I read this book because I was interested in South Africa history, but I also wanted a book that is somewhat entertaining. It isn't entertaining at all. It reads mostly like a text book to me, very slow, parts terribly boring.
Also, this book focuses mainly on the struggle and warfare between the British and the Boers. It just ends at around the early 1900's, with little mentioning of the Apartheid.
I read this book because I was interested in South Africa history, but I also wanted a book that is somewhat entertaining. It isn't entertaining at all. It reads mostly like a text book to me, very slow, parts terribly boring.
Also, this book focuses mainly on the struggle and warfare between the British and the Boers. It just ends at around the early 1900's, with little mentioning of the Apartheid.
July 26, 2011
This is a very readable history of an incredibly complicated country. Meredith includes enough personal anecdotes from the main players (Rhodes, Kruger, et al) to keep the narrative flowing. Sheds much light on the overwhelming greed, incendiary jingoism, and tragic subjugation of the native Africans that have interwoven to create the fabric of this beautiful and troubled country.
April 17, 2009
Wonderful history of South Africa. You will never look at a Rhodes Scholar the same way again.
What an incredibly racist man Mr. Rhodes was. I found this very compelling since I spent most of my college years protesting against apartheid.
What an incredibly racist man Mr. Rhodes was. I found this very compelling since I spent most of my college years protesting against apartheid.
August 13, 2009
good history of whites in SA and their shenanigans. its amazing how similar euro actions were in southern aftica and their actions in north america. reservations, wars, lying, killing, stealing. but nice ear rings.
December 10, 2009
This is a very interesting history of- mostly - Cecil Rhodes, the formation of South Africa, the Boer war, etc. Warning - it is long and though interesting was hard to get through. I think I've been reading it for 3 months.
March 3, 2011
A read about the making of South Africa from the time of British occupation in 1806 to the presnt.
May 6, 2017
Diamonds, Gold, and War was written by Martin Meredith. The title reflects or depicts the African continent. It is rich but the inhabitants have never enjoyed their wealth. Continuous strife and political onstability have hampered growth, peace, and development in black Africa. Massive corruption which is always geared towards the acquisition of our natural resources has contributed to ma jor conflicts within our boundaries. Was it like that in the past? Here we look at South Africa during the rush for dimond and gold by the west and the negative impact it had on the natives.
The Boers. They were led by Paul Kruger. There intention was to acquire more land in Africa and natural resources for their country. However, when they arrived, they found a land rich in minerals. They discovered diamonds in Transvaal area where tgey settled. But to acquire the minerals they had to go through the Africans who had an orinformal form of government. Tbey were led by chiefs. They first sent missionaries who came in the pretext of spreading christianity. Later they appeased the chiefs with simple gifts such as clothes. Later, they were given permission to conduct mining activities in the territories of there interests. To do that they had to displace the natives.
Tbe British. They arrived in South Africa at almost the same time with the Boers. Cecil Rhodes led the expedition. He was an oxford trained lawyer with a strong tbirst for wealth. To achieve his goals he descended into the arena with tbe Boers for the exploitation of the minerals. He managed to convince a number of institutions who readily advanced to him the necessary financial resources required for the quest. Together with his othet business colleagues, he managed to secure cheap labor from the Africans by way imposing various tax regimes which could only be paid if tbey worked in the mines. Later, they discovered gold which led to what is famously known as the gold rush.
The Africans. They were ignorant of tbe wealth around them. After inviting tbe whites into their territories, they soon got displaced from tbeir land. They were forced into native reserves as tbe Boers and the British rushed to purchase and acquire their lands. They were also subjected to pay taxes to their colonial masters. To achieve this they had to work in the mines. In summary, they wrre slaves. They lived like dogs. Consequently, they began to reise that it was better to die than live such desolate lives.
The tensions. In the rush to acquire the abundant minerals, the British and the Boers started competing for tertitory. The British coveted the Transvaal area which was in the control of Paul Kruger. They stsrted planning a coup in order to overtbrow the president, Mr. Kruger. On the other hand, Kruger sort out the help of the Germans in case of an attack by the British. The coup failed after Jameson's disastrous advance. They were arrested and sentenced to death which was latet commutted to a £200,000/= fine. At the same time the Africans started agitating for their rights. The long suffering and deprivation was enough, they wanted whst rightfully belonged to them. They realised that they had been shortchanged and thst if they did not fight they would loose everything to the strangers who had occupied their lands.
A ver interesting story.
The Boers. They were led by Paul Kruger. There intention was to acquire more land in Africa and natural resources for their country. However, when they arrived, they found a land rich in minerals. They discovered diamonds in Transvaal area where tgey settled. But to acquire the minerals they had to go through the Africans who had an orinformal form of government. Tbey were led by chiefs. They first sent missionaries who came in the pretext of spreading christianity. Later they appeased the chiefs with simple gifts such as clothes. Later, they were given permission to conduct mining activities in the territories of there interests. To do that they had to displace the natives.
Tbe British. They arrived in South Africa at almost the same time with the Boers. Cecil Rhodes led the expedition. He was an oxford trained lawyer with a strong tbirst for wealth. To achieve his goals he descended into the arena with tbe Boers for the exploitation of the minerals. He managed to convince a number of institutions who readily advanced to him the necessary financial resources required for the quest. Together with his othet business colleagues, he managed to secure cheap labor from the Africans by way imposing various tax regimes which could only be paid if tbey worked in the mines. Later, they discovered gold which led to what is famously known as the gold rush.
The Africans. They were ignorant of tbe wealth around them. After inviting tbe whites into their territories, they soon got displaced from tbeir land. They were forced into native reserves as tbe Boers and the British rushed to purchase and acquire their lands. They were also subjected to pay taxes to their colonial masters. To achieve this they had to work in the mines. In summary, they wrre slaves. They lived like dogs. Consequently, they began to reise that it was better to die than live such desolate lives.
The tensions. In the rush to acquire the abundant minerals, the British and the Boers started competing for tertitory. The British coveted the Transvaal area which was in the control of Paul Kruger. They stsrted planning a coup in order to overtbrow the president, Mr. Kruger. On the other hand, Kruger sort out the help of the Germans in case of an attack by the British. The coup failed after Jameson's disastrous advance. They were arrested and sentenced to death which was latet commutted to a £200,000/= fine. At the same time the Africans started agitating for their rights. The long suffering and deprivation was enough, they wanted whst rightfully belonged to them. They realised that they had been shortchanged and thst if they did not fight they would loose everything to the strangers who had occupied their lands.
A ver interesting story.
April 9, 2018
A fascinating read describing the political machinations that lead to the establishment of the Union of South Africa. As a Capetonian, this (generally awful) history is woven into the names of our Streets and Suburbs. As a South African, it established the structure that went on to impose one of the world's greatest human rights abuses. It's a history that still impacts us, more than a century later, and it's worth understanding.
July 17, 2022
Great work explaining m portanto historical aspects of South Africa and the Boer War, as well as the British, diamond and gold industries. Excellent narrative.
January 13, 2023
An insanely engaging look into settler-colonial depravity. Reveals some Dark Truths about Gandhi toward the end.
May 17, 2011
Similar in approach, this book explores the history of South Africa in a way that reminds one of Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel".
Starting in 1870 around the time diamonds were first discovered near Kimberly, the book initially focuses on Cecil Rhodes, who realized early on that the best way to make money out of the diamond industry was to establish a monopoly. He wasted no time in going about buying up all of the smaller mines to form De Beers (still the dominant, privately owned, diamond mining and trading company in the world today).
Rhodes was also a fervent imperialist, and set about using his immense wealth to try and expand the British empire in Southern Africa using any means necessary, including bribery, propaganda (using newspapers he acquired specifically for this purpose), mobilizing a private army to launch a military campaign to the north, and attempting a coup d'état of the Transvaal in the Jameson raid.
As a little Boer republic, the Transvaal (and Orange Free State) had the 'misfortune' of being the richest place on earth (by 1910 it was producing one third of the world's gold supply and 98% of the world's diamond production). Fiercely independent, the Boers' only aim seem to have been to establish a republic which would allow them to continue leading their traditional lifestyle. With the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand (which the secretary of the Transvaal referred to as "...that cancer in our country..."), it soon became apparent that Transvaal would eclipse the Cape Colony (which Britain controlled) as the dominant force in Southern Africa. As such, war was inevitable.
About a third of the book is spent dealing with the tragic fate of the native peoples, who first lost their grazing lands to the Boers, and then the mineral rights and their sovereignty to imperialists and speculators. The chiefs of many of the indigenous tribes kept up a steady stream of correspondence with Britain, even sending delegations consisting of the chief's advisors (so called 'InDunas') to meet with the queen to beg her assistance by asking for the protection of the British flag.
Martin Meredith succeeds in creating a riveting account of the history of South Africa between 1870 and 1910, which allows one to 'fast forward' through events as new discoveries are made and new groups of people come into contact for the first time. The pattern becomes predictable as exuberance turns to opportunism, broken alliances, deceit, disenfranchisement, and ultimately violence.
If you've ever lived in South Africa you'll enjoy the book for the insights it offers as to how things came to be as they are: from the names of streets in Johannesburg, the cultural differences of that city compared to Pretoria, how companies like Gold Fields, Anglo American, and others were formed, and how the borders in Southern Africa came to be drawn.
If you're interested in the era of adventure and discovery of Africa in the 1800's, the book also offers that as well as vignettes of the personalities that frequented this part of the world when it enjoyed center stage in the British Empire: Rudyard Kipling, Percy Fitzpatrick, Sammy Marks, Robert Baden-Powell, Mohandas Gandhi, and others.
Starting in 1870 around the time diamonds were first discovered near Kimberly, the book initially focuses on Cecil Rhodes, who realized early on that the best way to make money out of the diamond industry was to establish a monopoly. He wasted no time in going about buying up all of the smaller mines to form De Beers (still the dominant, privately owned, diamond mining and trading company in the world today).
Rhodes was also a fervent imperialist, and set about using his immense wealth to try and expand the British empire in Southern Africa using any means necessary, including bribery, propaganda (using newspapers he acquired specifically for this purpose), mobilizing a private army to launch a military campaign to the north, and attempting a coup d'état of the Transvaal in the Jameson raid.
As a little Boer republic, the Transvaal (and Orange Free State) had the 'misfortune' of being the richest place on earth (by 1910 it was producing one third of the world's gold supply and 98% of the world's diamond production). Fiercely independent, the Boers' only aim seem to have been to establish a republic which would allow them to continue leading their traditional lifestyle. With the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand (which the secretary of the Transvaal referred to as "...that cancer in our country..."), it soon became apparent that Transvaal would eclipse the Cape Colony (which Britain controlled) as the dominant force in Southern Africa. As such, war was inevitable.
About a third of the book is spent dealing with the tragic fate of the native peoples, who first lost their grazing lands to the Boers, and then the mineral rights and their sovereignty to imperialists and speculators. The chiefs of many of the indigenous tribes kept up a steady stream of correspondence with Britain, even sending delegations consisting of the chief's advisors (so called 'InDunas') to meet with the queen to beg her assistance by asking for the protection of the British flag.
Martin Meredith succeeds in creating a riveting account of the history of South Africa between 1870 and 1910, which allows one to 'fast forward' through events as new discoveries are made and new groups of people come into contact for the first time. The pattern becomes predictable as exuberance turns to opportunism, broken alliances, deceit, disenfranchisement, and ultimately violence.
If you've ever lived in South Africa you'll enjoy the book for the insights it offers as to how things came to be as they are: from the names of streets in Johannesburg, the cultural differences of that city compared to Pretoria, how companies like Gold Fields, Anglo American, and others were formed, and how the borders in Southern Africa came to be drawn.
If you're interested in the era of adventure and discovery of Africa in the 1800's, the book also offers that as well as vignettes of the personalities that frequented this part of the world when it enjoyed center stage in the British Empire: Rudyard Kipling, Percy Fitzpatrick, Sammy Marks, Robert Baden-Powell, Mohandas Gandhi, and others.
March 8, 2024
One of the finest books on the Boer war and it's background. Honestly if anyone really retains an illusion that the British Empire was anything but an unmitigated disaster then they should read this brilliant history - not because it is some polemic - absolutely not - but the best polemic is truth. The whole tale of Britain's involvement in Africa is shabby but the sheer vulgar tawdry meretriciousness of everything to do with the Boer War is particularly loathsome. The persistent and underhand ways that so many British politicians and the great and good of the Victorian world went about undermining the Boer republics is scandalous and jaw dropping in blatant bullying. That there are monuments and memorials to so man of these braggarts, bullies, liars and con men throughout the UK is but merest tip of the buried iceberg of hypocrisy that feeds the delusion of Britain's lost 'greatness'.
Not that the Boers weren't a repulsively nasty group of religious and racist bigots but that wasn't why the UK went to war on them. I could go on - perhaps, as an Irish person what I find so interesting is the parallels - any compromise on Ireland was seen as a death blow to the empire, any compromise with the Boers was viewed in the same light. Yet after wasting millions in money and way to numerous lives (of their own soldiers and far more civilians) the UK suddenly found it go get along with compromises that might have saved so many lives and prevented huge upheaval and laid the groundwork for years of misery. But the UK never admits fault or failure. It goes in with its armies and blinkered prejudices and its own needs and imposes them for as long as it can and then withdraws and everything falls aparts condescendingly observes that the natives were better off before while unfree and oppressed by them.
A wonderful history of a horrible war.
Not that the Boers weren't a repulsively nasty group of religious and racist bigots but that wasn't why the UK went to war on them. I could go on - perhaps, as an Irish person what I find so interesting is the parallels - any compromise on Ireland was seen as a death blow to the empire, any compromise with the Boers was viewed in the same light. Yet after wasting millions in money and way to numerous lives (of their own soldiers and far more civilians) the UK suddenly found it go get along with compromises that might have saved so many lives and prevented huge upheaval and laid the groundwork for years of misery. But the UK never admits fault or failure. It goes in with its armies and blinkered prejudices and its own needs and imposes them for as long as it can and then withdraws and everything falls aparts condescendingly observes that the natives were better off before while unfree and oppressed by them.
A wonderful history of a horrible war.
May 26, 2012
The first thing I learned from this book is that I knew just about nothing about 19th Century South Africa. I had heard of Cecil Rhodes, and I knew a little about the Boer War, but thee was so much else that I was completely unfamiliar with. (I had never even heard of Paul Kruger, for example.) So reading Diamonds, Gold, and War introduced me to a lot of people and places, and it got awfully confusing at times. It's hard to say whether or not I would have been more absorbed in the book if it was better written, or if the blame lies in my own lack of background. Either way, I gave the book three stars to reflect how much I enjoyed the experience of reading it; it's not necessarily a reflection on the quality of the book itself.
I'm glad that a map was included. I found myself referring to it very frequently as I was reading. I do wish it was a better map; it was hard to tell where the political borders were and it was hard to find the rivers. Railroad lines were also included, which confused things all the more.
This was the twelfth of nineteen consecutive books that I plan to read about Africa.
I'm glad that a map was included. I found myself referring to it very frequently as I was reading. I do wish it was a better map; it was hard to tell where the political borders were and it was hard to find the rivers. Railroad lines were also included, which confused things all the more.
This was the twelfth of nineteen consecutive books that I plan to read about Africa.
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