The monograph examines the initial stage of French colonization of the islands of the Indian Ocean - Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Rodrigues, etc. The traditions of the people's struggle against the colonialists are examined. The work offered to the reader is devoted to the preparatory stage of French colonial expansion associated with the initial accumulation of capital in France (before end of the 18th century). We will talk only about that direction of the colonization policy of French absolutism, which is associated with its penetration into the southwestern regions of the Indian Ocean. The relevance of this topic is determined by the importance of studying the origins of colonialism in its specific historical form, using the example of a specific region. It is also interesting to compare the assessments of colonialism by Western European social thought at various stages of its development. It should be noted that there is no special research on this issue in Soviet historical literature. Works by foreign authors, in particular from Eastern European countries, were almost never published in our country. Contents Introduction Chapter 1. The beginning of the French colonization of Madagascar. Colonial policy of RichelieuChapter 2. Madagascar in the XVII-XVIII centuriesChapter 3. Colbert and further attempts to colonize MadagascarChapter 4. Colonization of the archipelagosConclusionBibliography