, Topic 2: An African kingdom in Mapungubwe
UNIT 1: COMMUNITIES IN THE LIMPOPO VALLEY
TERM DEFINITION
Limpopo Valley A fertile area around the Limpopo River.
Settlement A place where people live and form a community.
Hunter-gatherers People hunting and gathering food in the wild.
Herders People who keep and care for animals like cattle.
Long-distance trading Trade with people very far away.
MAPUNGUBWE AND CHANGES IN THE VALLEY
• About 800 years ago, Mapungubwe was a thriving place.
• Between 900 and 1300, things began to change rapidly in the Limpopo Valley.
• Before that, people lived in small family groups.
• The oldest man usually led.
• Most people had equal status and everyone did work.
WHY HAVE THINGS CHANGED? (POSSIBLE REASONS)
WAR
• A group could have become stronger or richer.
• Groups could have banded together to conquer others.
• A new powerful group could also have come from outside.
TRADE
• A group could start trading with people far away.
• They could have found things that weren't in the valley.
• They could also have learned to make something very precious (e.g., gold).
WEALTH
• The valley was good for cattle.
• People with more cattle could get richer.
• Wealth makes it easier to gain power.
THE ENVIRONMENT
• The area could have become better for cattle ranching.
• Firewood for iron smelting could have attracted people.
• Close proximity to routes for land and sea trade was handy.
• Climate could have changed (cool/dry to hot/wet).
BELIEFS AND RELIGION
• Priests or spiritual leaders could have been given more power.
• New ideas of faith could have changed people's way of life.
SCHRODA – THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
• Schroda was the first settlement in the Limpopo Valley.
• About 400 people lived there.
• They probably traded ivory for glass beads.
Copyright © Skool Notas History Grade 6 Via Africa textbook Page 1 of 21
, Topic 2: An African kingdom in Mapungubwe
UNIT 1: COMMUNITIES IN THE LIMPOPO VALLEY
K2 – A NEW, BIGGER AND MORE POWERFUL COMMUNITY
• Later, a new, more powerful group of people arrived.
• K2 was then built.
• About 1,500 people lived there.
• Trade and cattle made people richer.
• A ruling group formed, with a king as its leader.
WHAT DO ARCHAEOLOGISTS' FINDS SAY? (5 THEORIES)
THEORY EVIDENCE FOUND
War Some people lived in higher areas; gold jewels; special funerals.
Trade Ivory and glass beads at Schroda; similar beads also in other countries (e.g. Tanzania).
Wealth Many cattle's bones; signs of iron smelting nearby (e.g., Botswana).
Environment Settlements near trade routes; signs of climate change (c. 900 A.D.).
Faith artifacts for spiritual use; sacred cemeteries for ancestors.
Copyright © Skool Notas History Grade 6 Via Africa textbook Page 2 of 21
UNIT 1: COMMUNITIES IN THE LIMPOPO VALLEY
TERM DEFINITION
Limpopo Valley A fertile area around the Limpopo River.
Settlement A place where people live and form a community.
Hunter-gatherers People hunting and gathering food in the wild.
Herders People who keep and care for animals like cattle.
Long-distance trading Trade with people very far away.
MAPUNGUBWE AND CHANGES IN THE VALLEY
• About 800 years ago, Mapungubwe was a thriving place.
• Between 900 and 1300, things began to change rapidly in the Limpopo Valley.
• Before that, people lived in small family groups.
• The oldest man usually led.
• Most people had equal status and everyone did work.
WHY HAVE THINGS CHANGED? (POSSIBLE REASONS)
WAR
• A group could have become stronger or richer.
• Groups could have banded together to conquer others.
• A new powerful group could also have come from outside.
TRADE
• A group could start trading with people far away.
• They could have found things that weren't in the valley.
• They could also have learned to make something very precious (e.g., gold).
WEALTH
• The valley was good for cattle.
• People with more cattle could get richer.
• Wealth makes it easier to gain power.
THE ENVIRONMENT
• The area could have become better for cattle ranching.
• Firewood for iron smelting could have attracted people.
• Close proximity to routes for land and sea trade was handy.
• Climate could have changed (cool/dry to hot/wet).
BELIEFS AND RELIGION
• Priests or spiritual leaders could have been given more power.
• New ideas of faith could have changed people's way of life.
SCHRODA – THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
• Schroda was the first settlement in the Limpopo Valley.
• About 400 people lived there.
• They probably traded ivory for glass beads.
Copyright © Skool Notas History Grade 6 Via Africa textbook Page 1 of 21
, Topic 2: An African kingdom in Mapungubwe
UNIT 1: COMMUNITIES IN THE LIMPOPO VALLEY
K2 – A NEW, BIGGER AND MORE POWERFUL COMMUNITY
• Later, a new, more powerful group of people arrived.
• K2 was then built.
• About 1,500 people lived there.
• Trade and cattle made people richer.
• A ruling group formed, with a king as its leader.
WHAT DO ARCHAEOLOGISTS' FINDS SAY? (5 THEORIES)
THEORY EVIDENCE FOUND
War Some people lived in higher areas; gold jewels; special funerals.
Trade Ivory and glass beads at Schroda; similar beads also in other countries (e.g. Tanzania).
Wealth Many cattle's bones; signs of iron smelting nearby (e.g., Botswana).
Environment Settlements near trade routes; signs of climate change (c. 900 A.D.).
Faith artifacts for spiritual use; sacred cemeteries for ancestors.
Copyright © Skool Notas History Grade 6 Via Africa textbook Page 2 of 21
