MADAGASCARMADAGASCAR

BY ORESTIS MARINIS E 1BY ORESTIS MARINIS E 1

IS A REPUBLICIS A REPUBLIC

MadagascaMadagascarr, officially the , officially the Republic of MadagascarRepublic of Madagascar ( (MalagasyMalagasy: : Repoblikan'i MadagasikaraRepoblikan'i Madagasikara [[republiˈkʲanrepubliˈkʲan madaɡasˈkʲarə̥*madaɡasˈkʲarə̥*]]; ; FrenchFrench: : République de MadagascarRépublique de Madagascar) and previously known as the ) and previously known as the Malagasy Malagasy RepublicRepublic, is an , is an islandisland countrycountry in the in the IndianIndian OceanOcean, off the southeastern , off the southeastern coast of coast of AfricaAfrica. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent GondwanaGondwana, , Madagascar split from Madagascar split from IndiaIndia around 88 million years ago, allowing native around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a Madagascar is a biodiversitybiodiversity hotspothotspot; over 90 percent of ; over 90 percent of itsits wildlifewildlife is is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population.population.

EcologyEcology As a result of the island's long isolation Madagascar is from neighboring continents, home to an As a result of the island's long isolation Madagascar is from neighboring continents, home to an

abundance of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earthabundance of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.. This distinctive ecology has This distinctive ecology has led some ecologists to refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent", and the island has been led some ecologists to refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent", and the island has been classified by classified by ConservationConservation InternationalInternational as a biodiversity hotspot. as a biodiversity hotspot.

More than 80 percent of Madagascar's 14,883 More than 80 percent of Madagascar's 14,883 plantplant speciesspecies are found nowhere else in the are found nowhere else in the world, including five plant families. The family world, including five plant families. The family DidiereaceaeDidiereaceae, composed of four genera and 11 , composed of four genera and 11 species, is limited to the species, is limited to the spinyspiny forestsforests of southwestern Madagascar. Four-fifths of the world's of southwestern Madagascar. Four-fifths of the world's PachypodiumPachypodium species are endemic to the island. Three-fourths of Madagascar's 860 species are endemic to the island. Three-fourths of Madagascar's 860 orchidorchid species are found here alone, as are six of the world's eight species are found here alone, as are six of the world's eight baobabbaobab species. The island is home species. The island is home to around 170 palm species, three times as many as on all of mainland Africa; 165 of them are to around 170 palm species, three times as many as on all of mainland Africa; 165 of them are endemic. Many native plant species are used as herbal remedies for a variety of afflictions. endemic. Many native plant species are used as herbal remedies for a variety of afflictions. The drugs The drugs vinblastinevinblastine and and vincristinevincristine, used to treat , used to treat Hodgkin'sHodgkin's diseasedisease, , leukemialeukemia and other and other cancers, were derived from the cancers, were derived from the MadagascarMadagascar periwinkleperiwinkle. The . The traveler'straveler's palmpalm, known locally as , known locally as ravinalaravinala and endemic to the eastern rain forests, is highly iconic of Madagascar and is and endemic to the eastern rain forests, is highly iconic of Madagascar and is featured in the national emblem as well as the featured in the national emblem as well as the AirAir MadagascarMadagascar logo. logo.

Early periodEarly period

Most archaeologists estimate that the earliest settlers arrived in Most archaeologists estimate that the earliest settlers arrived in outriggeroutrigger canoescanoes from southern from southern BorneoBorneo in successive waves throughout the period in successive waves throughout the period between 350 BCE and 550 CE, making Madagascar one of the last major between 350 BCE and 550 CE, making Madagascar one of the last major landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans. Upon arrival, early settlers landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans. Upon arrival, early settlers practiced slash-and-burn agriculture to clear the coastal practiced slash-and-burn agriculture to clear the coastal rainforestsrainforests for for cultivation. The first settlers encountered Madagascar's abundance of cultivation. The first settlers encountered Madagascar's abundance of megafauna, including megafauna, including giantgiant lemurslemurs, elephant birds, , elephant birds, giantgiant fossafossa and the and the MalagasyMalagasy hippopotamushippopotamus, which have since become extinct due to hunting , which have since become extinct due to hunting and habitat destruction. By 600 CE groups of these early settlers had begun and habitat destruction. By 600 CE groups of these early settlers had begun clearing the forests of the central highlands. clearing the forests of the central highlands. ArabsArabs first reached the island first reached the island between the seventh and ninth centuries,and a wave of between the seventh and ninth centuries,and a wave of BantuBantu-speaking -speaking East African migrants arrived around 1000 CE and introduced East African migrants arrived around 1000 CE and introduced zebuzebu, a type , a type of long-horned humped cattle, which were kept in large herds. of long-horned humped cattle, which were kept in large herds.

Kingdom of MadagascarKingdom of Madagascar

Upon its emergence in the early 17th century, the highland kingdom of Imerina was Upon its emergence in the early 17th century, the highland kingdom of Imerina was initially a minor power relative to the larger coastal kingdomsinitially a minor power relative to the larger coastal kingdoms and grew even and grew even weaker in the early 18th century when King weaker in the early 18th century when King AndriamasinavalonaAndriamasinavalona divided it among divided it among his four sons. Following a century of warring and famine, Imerina was reunited in his four sons. Following a century of warring and famine, Imerina was reunited in 1793 by King 1793 by King AndrianampoinimerinaAndrianampoinimerina (1787–1810). From his initial capital (1787–1810). From his initial capital AmbohimangaAmbohimanga, and later from the , and later from the RovaRova ofof AntananarivoAntananarivo, this Merina king rapidly , this Merina king rapidly expanded his rule over neighboring principalities. His ambition to bring the entire expanded his rule over neighboring principalities. His ambition to bring the entire island under his control was largely achieved by his son and successor, King island under his control was largely achieved by his son and successor, King RadamaRadama I I (1810–28), who was recognized by the British government as King of (1810–28), who was recognized by the British government as King of Madagascar. Radama concluded a treaty in 1817 with the British governor of Madagascar. Radama concluded a treaty in 1817 with the British governor of MauritiusMauritius to abolish the lucrative slave trade in return for British military and to abolish the lucrative slave trade in return for British military and financial assistance. Artisan missionary envoys from the financial assistance. Artisan missionary envoys from the LondonLondon MissionaryMissionary SocietySociety began arriving in 1818 and included such key figures as James Cameron, began arriving in 1818 and included such key figures as James Cameron, David Jones and David Griffiths, who established schools, transcribed the David Jones and David Griffiths, who established schools, transcribed the Malagasy language using the Roman alphabet, translated the Bible, and introduced Malagasy language using the Roman alphabet, translated the Bible, and introduced a variety of new technologies to the island. a variety of new technologies to the island.

Madagascar 4 everMadagascar 4 ever

See and the movies :See and the movies :

Madagascar 1Madagascar 1

Madagascar 2Madagascar 2

And Madagascar 3!And Madagascar 3!

They are great movies!They are great movies!

They are my favourite animation They are my favourite animation movies !!!!!!!!!!movies !!!!!!!!!!

MADAGASCARMADAGASCAR

THAT IS THE END OF THE THAT IS THE END OF THE PRESENTATIONPRESENTATION

ΒΒibliography: ibliography: www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com

A big thanks for watchingA big thanks for watching

By Orestis MarinisBy Orestis Marinis