Portuguese
The Portuguese arrived on the eastern coast of what would be Tanzania in 1498. They quickly conquered the island of Zanzibar and began consolidating control of the region. The insertion of the Portuguese into the culture of the people in the region had significant changes on their society. The Catholic faith would be introduced from this incursion, and today is a major part of the Tanzanian way of life. Education and trade while not exactly new to the region was expanded to incorporate distant parts of the Great Lakes Region. The Portuguese established control of the region for almost 200 years before being forced out by the Ottomans.
Ottomans
The Ottoman Empire had a large influence on the development of Tanzania. The Ottomans were able to drive the Portuguese out of Tanzania and establish a permanent presence on Zanzibar, bringing with them the Slave trade. The Ottomans were mainly focused on trade, but the spread of Islam grew within the country along its routes. Naturally most of the population of Zanzibar today is Islamic in its faith. The Islamic faithful are still today located on Zanzibar and along the eastern coast where the Ottoman influence was at its peak.
Germans
The German influence on the country can still be felt today. Starting in 1885, the Germans established a charter that would establish a protectorate in East Africa. The exact borders at the time of the founding were not established until a treaty in 1890 between Britain and Germany. Once established borders were finalized, these borders would stay the same for quite sometime. There was significant resistance to the German colonization of the region from tribal chiefs and there were atrocities committed on both sides during open rebellion. The Germans were not open to tribal African faiths had at one point were eliminating all signs of this. This would cause much hate and discontent among the people which would lead to the Maji-Maji Rebellion.
British
The British inherited German East Africa from Germany as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. The British renamed the country Tanganyika, and began to improve the infrastructure of the country. The use of the railroad was introduced during the late 1920s, and new roads were paved increasing travel times throughout the country. The British also encouraged participation from the people in governance, establishing local councils of tribal chiefs that could help shape policy in the region. After WWII, Tanganyika was given its independence from Britain, and in 1964 Zanzibar rebelled from the Sultan, eventually uniting with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
Impacts
The people of Tanzania have only been independent for about 50 years. They are still establishing their own sense of identity. Tribal and religious customs have helped shaped the cultural aspects of the country, but politically and ideologically, they are still taking shape. The stability of the country has for the most part remained stable. Party changes have caused some discontent in the region, but the union remains strong. The establishment of hospitals and emulating a government based upon the British has had lasting affects on the people as a whole.
Overall the influences of the powers involved in Tanzania have helped the country evolve itself into what it is today, and it is continuing to evolve into a better and stronger nation.
Bibliography
"German East Africa." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed May 05, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/place/German-East-Africa.
"Portugal's Planet-Wide Empire." About.com Education. Accessed May 05, 2016. http://geography.about.com/od/historyofgeography/a/The-Portuguese-Empire.htm.
Chiteji, Frank Matthew. "Tanzania." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed May 05, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania.
