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=  French Imperialism in Madagascar       = Map of Madagascar from Infoplease

In 1896, Madagascar became a French colony.

**__Geography__**:
 * World's Forth Largest Island
 * Center is mountainous and full of plateaus
 * Narrow Costal Line

__**Culture**__:
 * French and Malagasy are the official languages of Madagascar
 * 52% of the populoation have indigenous beliefs concerning religion
 * Ethnicities consist of
 * Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo)
 * Cotiers
 * French
 * Indian
 * Creole
 * Comoran

__**Natural Resourses**__: Semiprecious stones, fish, hydropower, salt, and quartz are some of the common natural resourses that can be found in Madagascar. __**Agricultural Products**__:Coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, beans, bananas, and peanuts. __**Manufactured Products**__: (Shown Below) Organic Silks...........................Iron Objects ........................Zafimaniry Furniture  **Why Was Madagascar An Attractive Possesion?** Madagascar had several qualities that made it immensely attractive to the French nation.
 * Madagascar was a large island so it could be easily accessible from all sides
 * More raw materials
 * Room for expanding markets
 * Madagascar was not very technologically advanced so it was easy for French to take over their colony.