1602 20 March: The Dutch East India Company (VOC) comes into being.

1652 Jan van Riebeeck, a representative of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), establishes a station at the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern tip of Africa.

1656 The first conflict between the Dutch and local Khoi erupts at the Cape.

1657 The first 12 free burghers settle along the Liesbeeck River in the Cape to cultivate land to provide ships stopping at the station with fresh food.

1659 The Khoi at the Cape attempt to regain their territory from the Dutch settlers at the Cape but are unsuccessful and lose many men in the conflict.

1662 Jan van Riebeeck leaves the Cape to become commander at the new post at Malacca. There are 40 free burghers with about 15 women and 20 children settled at the Cape to cultivate land to provide ships stopping at the station with fresh food.

1672 The Dutch East India Company (VOC) takes over the Hottentots Holland, False Bay and Saldanha Bay areas.

1673 The Khoi at the Cape attempt to regain their territory from the Dutch settlers at the Cape but are unsuccessful and lose many men in the conflict.

1713 8 April: A smallpox epidemic breaks out among the slaves at the Cape Colony.

1755 Another smallpox epidemic breaks out in the Cape Colony and wreaks devastation among the Khoikhoi.

1767 A third smallpox epidemic breaks out in the Cape Colony and wreaks devastation among the Khoikhoi and nearly eradicates them. Those who survive become westernised, Christianised and learn to speak Dutch, and later Afrikaans, and dress in European clothes.

1795 September: The British win the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch.

1787 The Philadelphia Convention takes place in America and the different American states’ representatives draw up a federal constitution.

1789 Serious conflict develops between Spain and Britain over the American fur trade.

1794 The American representative John Jay is sent to Britain and concludes the Jay Treaty.

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