Sao Tome and Principe History Curriculum - 9th Grade

I. Early History and Portuguese Colonization

• Discovery and Early Settlement: The uninhabited islands of Sao Tome and Principe were discovered by Portuguese navigators around 1470. Portugal began settling the islands, including convicts and Jewish children expelled from Portugal. Enslaved Africans were brought to the islands to cultivate sugarcane.
• Sugar and Slave Trade: From the late 1400s, sugar plantations were established using enslaved labor. Sao Tome became a significant port in the transatlantic slave trade, with enslaved people transported from mainland Africa to the Americas.
• Shift to Cocoa: After the decline of the sugar economy, cocoa was introduced in the 1800s. Sao Tome became a major cocoa producer.

II. Independence Movement and Post-Colonial Era

• Movement for Liberation: In 1960, the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP) was formed to fight for independence from Portuguese rule.
• Achieving Independence: Sao Tome and Principe gained independence on July 12, 1975. Manuel Pinto da Costa, the MLSTP Secretary General, became the first president.
• Post-Independence Politics: The MLSTP initially ruled as a one-party state. Democratic reforms began in 1990.

III. Culture and Society

• Ethnic Groups: The population is primarily composed of Forros, descendants of Europeans and enslaved Africans, and Angolares, descended from Angolans shipwrecked on Sao Tome around 1540.
• Language: Portuguese is the official language, spoken by the majority of the population. Portuguese creoles are also spoken.

This curriculum provides a framework for 9th-grade students to learn about the history of Sao Tome and Principe, from its early settlement and colonization to independence and beyond. It covers key events, social structures, and cultural aspects of the islands' history.