03_/Khoikhoi Society in later stone age Flashcards
(21 cards)
What did communities in North Africa do about 7,000 years ago?
Captured wild sheep and cattle and tamed them
They bred the biggest and best animals to create new breeds for milk and meat.
Where did herders gradually move to over time?
Further south through Africa
When did herders arrive in South Africa?
About 2,000 years ago
What did herders in the eastern regions of South Africa do?
Farm both crops and animals
What did herders in the dry western lands primarily do?
Herd sheep and cattle
What does Khoikhoi mean?
‘Men of Men’
What are the two theories regarding the migration of the Khoikhoi?
- Migrated as a separate group from the north
- Were San hunter-gatherers who started keeping cattle and sheep
What was the main activity of the Khoikhoi?
Herding
What were the most important foods for the Khoikhoi?
- Milk
- Meat
What type of sheep did the Khoikhoi keep?
Fat-tailed sheep
How were Khoikhoi settlements different from San settlements?
Bigger in size
What materials did the Khoikhoi use to make their houses?
- Poles
- Animal skins
What was a common practice regarding Khoikhoi settlements?
Did not stay permanently; moved with herds
What types of artifacts have archaeologists found in Khoikhoi settlements?
- Sheep bones from about 2,000 years ago
- Cattle bones from about 1,000 years ago
- Clay pottery
- Red and yellow ochre
What did early travelers report about the Khoikhoi’s use of cattle?
Used cattle to carry housing materials and goods
What social structure did Khoikhoi communities have?
- Clans or family groups
- Each clan had territory to graze animals
- Each clan had a headman or elder
What happened when a headman or elder died in a Khoikhoi clan?
His eldest son became the headman
Who was the most important headman in a group of clans?
A chief
What did chiefs do in Khoikhoi society?
- Met with headmen to make decisions about pastures
- Led groups of clans in conflicts
How did Khoikhoi communities interact with the San and African farmers?
Traded with them
What influence did Khoikhoi languages have on African languages?
African languages like Xhosa and Zulu contain words from Khoikhoi languages, including borrowed click sounds from San languages.
