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Questions and Answers
What was the purpose of the furnace pipes in the simple smelter?
What is the process of smelting?
What was the Lydenburg heads used for?
What was traded along the east coast of Africa from about 100-200CE?
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What was received by Africans in return for trading ivory, gold, and steel?
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What was the purpose of the bellows made of hide and skin?
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What was the material used to build the dome-like structure of the simple smelter?
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What were the early traders using instead of money?
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What was discovered by archaeologists far inland?
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What were the first farmers involved in?
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Study Notes
Timeline of Events in Southern Africa
- Hunter-gatherers lived in Southern Africa for hundreds of thousands of years.
- 700: Farmers were established in the Eastern Cape.
- 200: The first farmers arrived and settled along the Indian Ocean coastline.
- 350: The first farmers moved inland along the river valleys from the coast.
- 1000: Farmers started settling on the Highveld grasslands.
- 1652: The Dutch settled in the Cape.
- 1994: First democratic election in South Africa.
The First Farmers in Southern Africa
- The first farmers moved into South-Eastern Africa around 200CE.
- They kept cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens.
- The farmers used iron to make weapons and tools.
- They lived in large groups and many people were needed to work in the fields.
- People lived in homesteads with huts, areas to store food, and communal areas.
Farming Practices
- Farmers grew two types of crops: sorghum and millet.
- They kept animals for eggs, milk, and meat.
- Cattle were a source of wealth and status in the community.
- The Mafisa System allowed cattle to be lent to other people for breeding purposes.
- Bride-wealth or Lobola was a payment to the wife's family, usually in cattle.
Tools and Weapons
- The early African farmers used iron to make spear tips, hammers, hoes, and axes.
- Iron ore was mined and turned into liquid metal through smelting.
- Men shaped the liquid iron into tools and weapons.
Pottery
- Archaeologists have found many examples of pottery made by the first farmers.
- The Lydenburg heads are a famous example of Iron Age pottery.
- Pottery was used for ornaments, ceremonies, and everyday uses.
Trade
- The first farmers were involved in trading networks inside Africa and with people from other parts of the world.
- Traders from the middle-east traded along the east coast of Africa from about 100-200CE.
- Africans traded ivory, gold, and steel for goods from other parts of the world.
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Description
This quiz covers the timeline of key events in South Africa, from hunter-gatherers to democratic elections. Explore the history of settlers, farmers, and elections that shaped the country.
