Pamela
Student No:
Unique No: 303674
Assignment 1- HSY1512
SECTION A
1. What are the main ways that knowledge of the precolonial Southern African
past may be useful in helping to understand historical developments in the
colonial period after 1652?
Knowledge of pre-colonial history allows us to appreciate the density of historical
developments, and the relations between different communities that occurred after 1652. By
understanding and gaining information regarding pre-colonial history, we can develop a basis
about the origins in southern Africa, and the ways in which early people lived, survived and
succeeded in daily life. Understanding these developments allows us to gain perspective on
developments in Southern Africa. Southern African pre-colonial societies were not „different‟
nor „unique‟, but they did have certain characteristics that were. Some of southern Africa‟s
people, who are alive today, can trace their historical roots back to the pre-colonial period.
They are able to use their knowledge of southern Africa‟s pre-colonial past to support their
claims for respect of their cultural heritage and for purposes of land restoration, because of
feeling governmentally marginalised a lot of South African citizens can uncover their cultural
origins back to the precolonial period. A knowledge of the precolonial period helps in
developing an understanding of how people lived in the past, as well as enabling us to
identify the precolonialists‟ skills and abilities, and to value how productive they were. Being
duly informed of the precolonial lifestyles of all communities such as obtaining foods,
farming and religious believes, will enhance our historical perspectives.
2. Discuss briefly how topography shaped the economies and settlement patterns of
the precolonial communities of Southern Africa
Topography refers to the physical features of an area, for example its mountains, rivers and
valleys. It gave an idea of what the specific area looked like and had a significant influence
on the settlement patterns and migration of animals and human beings. This feature allowed
people to identify the size of the settlements, how thick or thin a settlement was, and the
physical lay-out of the settlement. The plateau of southern Africa had less hurdles with
regards to migration and could therefore uphold a range of hunter-gatherer and hunter-herder
communities. It also had adequate space for extensive mixed farming settlements. The river
valleys provided sufficient water, alluvial soil, and protection from the wind for crop
cultivation. They therefore attracted mixed farmers who settled in small villages. The river
valleys also influenced the routes taken by communities when moving into the interior.
Southern Africa has a small number of perennial rivers which limited agricultural farming to
only certain areas (for example along the banks of the Gariep River) and forced communities
, who relied on fauna and flora to temporarily leave the area when rivers dried up.
Environmental factors such as location, coast line as well as the quality of the soil influenced
colonisation and agricultural production.
5. Explain the connection between livestock ownership, wealth, social status and
political power in precolonial Khoekhoe society
Livestock ownership was important as the pre-colonial Khoekhoe people regarded it as a
symbol of wealth, which gave them hierarchical benefits in their social organisation. It was
then important to own a large herd as it created a social status within the society whereby you
would be regarded as an influential person which worked perfect to the gain of political
power, because livestock ownership determined their tittles. Livestock also had a huge
influence on settlement patterns of the Khoekhoe people as it determined where they could
settle as their source of wealth or livestock required grazing land and a water source. Besides
only being a source of wealth, livestock also played different roles in the social relationships
of the Khoekhoe people, as it was exchanged in marriage ceremonies, it could also be an
inheritance if the owner was to die, and it was used in the administrative role of the justice
system. Having livestock ownership indirectly distributed dignity and respect therefore one
would gain political influence. In many cases this political power obtained from the
ownership of large herd inflicted special responsibilities like decision making within your
clan, engaging in trading and solving conflicts within the clan. In summary livestock
ownership led to recognised wealth which came with the benefits of being honoured, political
power and influence to the members of the society.
4. What were the main functions of shamans in the precolonial San communities of
Southern Africa?
In pre-colonial San society shamans were seen/ referred to as a link between the spiritual and
physical worlds. Shamanism was a religious practice that involved a practitioner who is
believed to interact with the spirit world through a different state of consciousness, such as
a trance. They were believed to have supernatural powers which allowed them to not only
cure or cause illnesses, but also to control animals and the weather (rainfall), by having some
control over the rain the society benefitted a lot in cases of thunderstorm whereby massive
rainfall would sweep away plants and also result into soil erosion, thereby playing an
important role in the San hunter-gatherer economy. Shamans acted as peacekeepers in their
cultures as they communicate with the spirits on behalf of the community, including the
spirits of the deceased. They believe to be able to communicate with both the living and dead
to ease unrest, unsettled issues, and to deliver “gifts” to the spirits. They also provided
guidance during decision-making, and acted as rock artists who expressed their experiences
during trance dances in the rock paintings and engravings for which the San have become
well known.
Student No:
Unique No: 303674
Assignment 1- HSY1512
SECTION A
1. What are the main ways that knowledge of the precolonial Southern African
past may be useful in helping to understand historical developments in the
colonial period after 1652?
Knowledge of pre-colonial history allows us to appreciate the density of historical
developments, and the relations between different communities that occurred after 1652. By
understanding and gaining information regarding pre-colonial history, we can develop a basis
about the origins in southern Africa, and the ways in which early people lived, survived and
succeeded in daily life. Understanding these developments allows us to gain perspective on
developments in Southern Africa. Southern African pre-colonial societies were not „different‟
nor „unique‟, but they did have certain characteristics that were. Some of southern Africa‟s
people, who are alive today, can trace their historical roots back to the pre-colonial period.
They are able to use their knowledge of southern Africa‟s pre-colonial past to support their
claims for respect of their cultural heritage and for purposes of land restoration, because of
feeling governmentally marginalised a lot of South African citizens can uncover their cultural
origins back to the precolonial period. A knowledge of the precolonial period helps in
developing an understanding of how people lived in the past, as well as enabling us to
identify the precolonialists‟ skills and abilities, and to value how productive they were. Being
duly informed of the precolonial lifestyles of all communities such as obtaining foods,
farming and religious believes, will enhance our historical perspectives.
2. Discuss briefly how topography shaped the economies and settlement patterns of
the precolonial communities of Southern Africa
Topography refers to the physical features of an area, for example its mountains, rivers and
valleys. It gave an idea of what the specific area looked like and had a significant influence
on the settlement patterns and migration of animals and human beings. This feature allowed
people to identify the size of the settlements, how thick or thin a settlement was, and the
physical lay-out of the settlement. The plateau of southern Africa had less hurdles with
regards to migration and could therefore uphold a range of hunter-gatherer and hunter-herder
communities. It also had adequate space for extensive mixed farming settlements. The river
valleys provided sufficient water, alluvial soil, and protection from the wind for crop
cultivation. They therefore attracted mixed farmers who settled in small villages. The river
valleys also influenced the routes taken by communities when moving into the interior.
Southern Africa has a small number of perennial rivers which limited agricultural farming to
only certain areas (for example along the banks of the Gariep River) and forced communities
, who relied on fauna and flora to temporarily leave the area when rivers dried up.
Environmental factors such as location, coast line as well as the quality of the soil influenced
colonisation and agricultural production.
5. Explain the connection between livestock ownership, wealth, social status and
political power in precolonial Khoekhoe society
Livestock ownership was important as the pre-colonial Khoekhoe people regarded it as a
symbol of wealth, which gave them hierarchical benefits in their social organisation. It was
then important to own a large herd as it created a social status within the society whereby you
would be regarded as an influential person which worked perfect to the gain of political
power, because livestock ownership determined their tittles. Livestock also had a huge
influence on settlement patterns of the Khoekhoe people as it determined where they could
settle as their source of wealth or livestock required grazing land and a water source. Besides
only being a source of wealth, livestock also played different roles in the social relationships
of the Khoekhoe people, as it was exchanged in marriage ceremonies, it could also be an
inheritance if the owner was to die, and it was used in the administrative role of the justice
system. Having livestock ownership indirectly distributed dignity and respect therefore one
would gain political influence. In many cases this political power obtained from the
ownership of large herd inflicted special responsibilities like decision making within your
clan, engaging in trading and solving conflicts within the clan. In summary livestock
ownership led to recognised wealth which came with the benefits of being honoured, political
power and influence to the members of the society.
4. What were the main functions of shamans in the precolonial San communities of
Southern Africa?
In pre-colonial San society shamans were seen/ referred to as a link between the spiritual and
physical worlds. Shamanism was a religious practice that involved a practitioner who is
believed to interact with the spirit world through a different state of consciousness, such as
a trance. They were believed to have supernatural powers which allowed them to not only
cure or cause illnesses, but also to control animals and the weather (rainfall), by having some
control over the rain the society benefitted a lot in cases of thunderstorm whereby massive
rainfall would sweep away plants and also result into soil erosion, thereby playing an
important role in the San hunter-gatherer economy. Shamans acted as peacekeepers in their
cultures as they communicate with the spirits on behalf of the community, including the
spirits of the deceased. They believe to be able to communicate with both the living and dead
to ease unrest, unsettled issues, and to deliver “gifts” to the spirits. They also provided
guidance during decision-making, and acted as rock artists who expressed their experiences
during trance dances in the rock paintings and engravings for which the San have become
well known.
