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The Republic of Mauritius is a mountainous island located in the Indian Ocean, in the southeast coast of the African continent. The country includes in this territory the island of Mauritius, Rodriguez, the islands of Agalega, and the archipelago of Saint Brandon. The known history of Mauritius begins with its discovery by Europeans and its appearance o n maps in the early sixteenth century. Mauritius was one after another colonized by the Dutch, the French and the British, and became independent in 1968. It has preserved its image as one of Africa's few social and economic success stories About their history The island of Mauritius was visited during the medieval time by the Arabs and then by the Portuguese. The island was desolate until the Dutch Republic established a colony in 1638, but they abandoned it in 1710, five years later, the island became a French colony. Because of its value position Mauritius was an important base in the commercial routes in the Indian Ocean. For that reason the British and French had a lot of disputes over the territory. The French won the first battle, but they had to surrender to the British on the fifth day of the invasion, 3 December 1810. They allowed to the settlers to keep their land and property, the use of the French language, and the law of France in criminal and civil matters. Under British rule the country became an independent state on 12 March 1968, following the adoption of a new constitution and became a republic in 1992 within the Commonwealth. Important Facts Full name: The Republic of Mauritius Population: 1.3 million (UN, 2012) Capital and largest city: Port Louis Area: 2,040 sq km (788 sq miles) Major languages: English (official), Creole, French, Indian languages Major religions: Hinduism, Christianity, Islam Monetary unit : 1 Mauritian rupee=100 cents Main exports: Sugar, clothing, tea, jewellery
