Thesaurus
Term:
Madagasikara
Comprises the island of the same name and surrounding islets. Malayo/Indonesian immigration occurred ca. 1000 BCE via African coast; Africo-Arabs arrived later; Portuguese landed ca. 1500; several important native kingdoms flourished 17th-19th centuries; French settled 17th-18th centuries; official languages are Malagasy (of Malayo-Polynesian origin) and French.