HSY1512 Assignment 3
PORTFOLIO (COMPLETE
ANSWERS) Semester 1
2025 - DUE 19 May 2025
NO PLAGIARISM
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HSY1512 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO
(COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 1 2025 -
DUE 19 May 2025 Course
Southern Africa Until the Early 1800s: Encounters and Transformations
(HSY1512)
Institution
University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Book
A History of Southern Africa
HSY1512 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 1 2025
- DUE 19 May 2025; 100% TRUSTED Complete, trusted solutions and
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Question 1: Study Unit 4 Based on your reading, would you agree that
European colonisation was the reason for the destruction of the self-reliant
Khoekhoe communities in the Cape between the 1650s and the 1720s? Give
reasons for your answer.
Yes, I would agree that European colonisation was a major reason for the destruction of the self-
reliant Khoekhoe communities in the Cape between the 1650s and the 1720s. Here are the
reasons based on Study Unit 4:
1. Loss of Land and Resources: The arrival of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in
1652 led to the gradual takeover of Khoekhoe grazing lands. As settlers expanded their
farms, the Khoekhoe lost access to essential resources like grazing land and water, which
were vital to their pastoral lifestyle.
2. Disruption of Economic Systems: The Khoekhoe economy was based on cattle herding
and trade. European settlers introduced a market economy and began monopolizing trade
routes and livestock, undermining traditional Khoekhoe economic systems.
3. Military Conflict and Violence: As settlers encroached further into Khoekhoe territory,
violent clashes occurred. The Khoekhoe resisted colonisation, but they were ultimately
overpowered by better-armed and organised European forces.
4. Disease and Population Decline: European contact brought new diseases such as
smallpox, to which the Khoekhoe had no immunity. These diseases devastated Khoekhoe
populations and weakened their ability to resist colonial pressures.
5. Labour Exploitation and Dependency: Many Khoekhoe who survived were forced into
labour for the settlers, often under exploitative conditions. This shift eroded their self-
sufficiency and independence.
, 6. Social and Cultural Disruption: European colonisation imposed foreign systems of
governance, land ownership, and religion, which disrupted traditional Khoekhoe societal
structures and cultural practices.
In summary, European colonisation directly and indirectly caused the disintegration of Khoekhoe
communities by displacing them from their land, undermining their economy and culture,
exposing them to disease, and subjecting them to exploitation.
Yes, based on the content of Study Unit 4, I would agree that European colonisation was a major
reason for the destruction of the self-reliant Khoekhoe communities in the Cape between the
1650s and the 1720s. Here are the key reasons to support this view:
1. Loss of Land and Resources
When the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a refreshment station at the Cape in
1652, it led to the appropriation of land that had traditionally belonged to the Khoekhoe. As the
European settlers expanded, they took over more grazing land and water sources, which were
critical for the Khoekhoe’s pastoral way of life. This deprived the Khoekhoe of their means of
survival, undermining their economic independence.
2. Conflict and Military Defeat
The Khoekhoe resisted the encroachment, but their weapons and military strategies were not as
advanced as those of the Dutch settlers. After several confrontations, such as the First and
Second Khoekhoe-Dutch Wars (1659–60 and 1673–77), they were defeated, which further
weakened their ability to maintain autonomy.
3. Introduction of Diseases
European contact brought new diseases such as smallpox to which the Khoekhoe had no
immunity. Epidemics in the late 17th century (notably the smallpox outbreak in 1713) decimated
their population. These health crises greatly reduced their numbers and further destabilised their
communities.
4. Economic Dependence
After losing access to their land and livestock, many Khoekhoe were forced to work as labourers
or herders for the Dutch. This led to economic dependency and a loss of their traditional self-
reliant lifestyle. Some even lost their status as free people and were treated like slaves.
5. Disruption of Social Structures