Originally Posted by
kyratshooter
Many people do not realize that Africa had a parallel exploration and settlement pattern with North America at about the same time. North America settled east to west, Africa settled south to north.
The Dutch arrived at the Cape about the same time they arrived in New York. The British took over colonial control of the Cape and NY in the same treaty negotiation. Both settlements were resupply ports for the East India Company.
There were explorers and fighters on both continents and the equipment was very similar, as well as the evolution of the frontiersmen/settlers on each continent.
Sometimes the parallels are eerie. Divided natives, divided colonial beliefs, wagon trains going cross country, pitched battles with native tribes that were also migrating, railroad building, exploitation of resources as technology developed.
Both fought wars of independence against Colonial Britain, separated by 100 years and 50 years too late for the Africans to be successful.
Where the U.S. revived the Ranger concept in WW2 the British Army revived the concept of the South African Commando.