This is a list of events that occurred in 1503 in South Africa.
Events
- Antonio de Saldanha, leading a Portuguese squadron, enters Table Bay due to a navigational error.[1]
- De Saldanha and his squadron become the first Europeans to climb Table Mountain, formerly know as Hoerikwagga.[2][3]
- The Portuguese begin to actively explore the South African coastline, and eventually establish early contact with the Khoikhoi people.
- De Saldanha and his men attempt to trade with the local Khoikhoi people, offering mirrors, glass beads, and a rattle for two sheep and a cow. The Khoikhoi realize the unfair deal, and ambush De Saldanha and his men to reclaim their animals.[4]
References
- ^ "Early struggles, contact and conflict in the Cape Colony | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "General South African History Timeline: 1500s | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "#LandBack in South Africa: The Fight for Table Mountain | Cultural Survival". www.culturalsurvival.org. 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "Cape Town's Troubled Colonial History". TheCollector. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2025-02-19.