| The written history of Madagascar began in the [[7th century]], when [[Arab]]s established trading posts along the northwest coast. European contact began in the [[1500]]s, when [[Portugal|Portuguese]] sea captain [[Diego Dias]] sighted the island after his ship became separated from a fleet going to [[India]]. In the late 17th century, the [[France|French]] established trading posts along the east coast. From about [[1774]] to [[1824]], it was a favorite haunt for [[pirate]]s, including [[Unite...
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