| | | | |
| | 700AD | Arabian and Persians trade with ivory, rhino horn, gold, shells and slaves | |
| | | | |
| | 1000 AD | Shona people began their rule and built a city called Zimbabwe | |
| | | | |
| | 1400s | Karanga branch of the Shona established the Mwanamutapa Empire | |
| | | | |
| | 1500's | Rowzi branch rebelled and formed the Changamire Empire Christianity was introduced by the Portuguese explorers | |
| | | | |
| | 1830s | Nguni people from the south defeated the empire European slave traders establish coastal ports for the increasing traffic in slaves destined for the Americas | |
| | | | |
| | 1888 | Lobengula, the ruler, signed an agreement that granted mineral rights to the British South African Company | |
| | | | |
| | 1893 | The British South African Company occupied the region and called the territory Rhodesia | |
| | | | |
| | 1897 | Great Britain recognized southern and northern Rhodesia as separate territories | |
| | | | |
| | 1923 | Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing British Colony | |
| | | | |
| | 1953 | Great Britain set up the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which included the territories of Southern and Northern Rhodesia | |
| | | | |
| | 1963 | The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved | |
| | | | |
| | 1964 | The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved Northern Rhodesia became Zambia Southern Rhodesia became known as Rhodesia | |
| | | | |
| | 1965 | 11 November: Prime Minister, Ian Smith, declared Rhodesia independent. Great Britain declared this action illegal and banned trade with Rhodesia | |
| | | | |
| | 1966 | The United Nations imposed sanctions on Rhodesia | |
| | | | |
| | 1969 | A new constitution was introduced to prevent black Africans from ever gaining control of the government | |
| | | | |
| | 1970 | 2 March: Rhodesia declares itself a republic 1970-1974 Civil War between government troops and black guerrillas | |
| | | | |
| | 1977 | 1977-1979 Prime Minister Smith began to make plans to establish a new government with a majority of black leaders | |
| | | | |
| | 1979 | April: Election resulted in a majority of black leaders April: Abel T. Muzorewa became the first black Prime Minister 31 May: Zimbabwe proclaimed independence 1 June: The nation of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, was formed | |
| | | | |
| | 1980 | 18 April: Great Britain recognized the country's independence and Rhodesia's name was officially changed to Zimbabwe | |
| | | | |
| | 2000 | February: In a referendum Zimbabwe voters rejected a new constitution which included provisions that called for redistribution of white-owned farmland to blacks | |
| | | | |