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Grade 5 History Term 1 Notes

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4K views3 pages

Grade 5 History Term 1 Notes

Good

Uploaded by

pavithranaidoo
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© © All Rights Reserved
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☺San Hunter-gatherers and herders

San people - first people to live in South Africa and they were the hunter-gatherers.
Khoikhoi people - first people to live in South Africa and they were the herders.
Ethnography - observing the way San people lived their lives.

San Hunter-gatherers in the Stone Age


They did not have a special leader or chief. They discussed things together and came to an
agreement together, everyone had a say and was equal. The San shared what they had with
others in the community however they believed that no one had a right to own animals.
They lived in small groups of 25 men, women and children. They are called semi-nomadic
because they followed their prey(they moved from place to place) and also moved to find
berries, plants or roots to eat. The San people respected their environment, they understood
how and when plants grew and how to follow animals. They never used more than what
they needed. They lived in peace and harmony with their environment. They also respected
animals and never hunted more than what was needed as they believed animals were a gift
from the gods. The San were the best trackers in the world. In the San community, the men
hunted the animals and the women gathered plants, berries or roots. The San people lived
in caves or made simple shelters out of grass. The San people understood the value of water
and would store water in ostrich shells underground or get water from plant roots.
The Bow and Arrow
This was the most important tool used for hunting by the San. Bows were made from strong
wood while strings were made from animal guts or plant fibres. This was a smart tool as this
allowed the San to hunt from a distance without disturbing the animal. A Quiver was used to
hold arrows which had tips made from stones or bones. When hunting, the tips were dipped
in poison made from plants, so when animals would die after a few days due to the poison
on the tips of the arrows.
Using plants as Medicine
The San knew a lot about plants and animals from their ancestors, they understood that
plants could be used to make medicine. Plants were used to treat wounds, heal illnesses and
were used in healing ceremonies.
Camelthorn Tree - roots made into a tea used a mouthwash for toothache and tuberculosis.
Cancer Bush - made into a tea to bring down fevers and used for washing and cleaning
wounds.
Camphor Bush - Inhale the smoke from burning leaves to heal headaches and blocked
noses.
Devil’s Claw - roots used to treat pain during pregnancy, also sore or stiff joints.
Geranium - roots used as a cure for coughs and stomach problems.
Hoodia Gordonii - used to stop feeling hungry when they had little food. Used in diet pills
today.
San Beliefs and Religion

They believed in one powerful god. They respected and believed in the spirits of the dead.
Some even believed the moon was a god. The Eland fat (animal) was said to have special
powers.

The Trance Dance


Trance - when someone seems to be asleep but not fully control over their movements or
mind.
The San people believed in the Ritual trance dance. It is a healing dance led by the Shaman
or healer. A fire is lit and women sit around it and clap and tend to the fire while the male
dancers enter the trance which lasts between 6 to 8 hours.
Rock Art
San rock paintings are thousands of years old found in the Kwa-zulu Natal, Eastern Cape,
Western Cape, Free State and Northern Cape. The artists used coloured paints, charcoal
made black, bird droppings for white and yellow. Red came from the earth and clay. Brushes
were made from soft bones, chewed twigs or feathers. Rock art tells us about the lives of the
San and how they saw the world. Rock art is beautiful and very detailed. In the Drakensburg,
within a cave the “Rosetta Stone” was found. It is a famous painting that was preserved.
The Linton Rock Art Panel
This is a well-known pieces of rock art found in a farm in the Eastern Cape. It was cut out in
1917 and taken to the South African Museum in Cape Town. The human figures of the South
African Coat of Arms are figures from the Linton Panel, this represents power we can all
share and the idea that this power will benefit all South Africans. The motto on the coat of
arms means “unity in diversity”.
The Stone Age: Khoikhoi herders
The Khoikhoi are herders or pastorals because they depend on livestock and move around to
find water and grazing grounds for their animals. They would stay in one place until their
animals had eaten all the grass. The Khoikhoi owned cattle and sheep. If they needed to,
they would hunt and gather food but they would mainly herd their livestock. They lived in
much larger groups than the San and the clans were led by a chief. The Khoikhoi believed in
ownership of animals, the more cattle and sheep they had, the more wealthier you were.
Different groups had rights to water and they decided who could use it.
The San and the Khoikhoi
Both the San and the Khoikhoi lived in South Africa in the northern and western parts. They
lived peacefully together but at times there were conflict due to differences on how they
viewed the world.
Activity 1: Rock Art

a. Why are there so few objects left from the time of the San and the KhoiKhoi?
b. What animals can you see in the pictures of the San paintings?
c. Which of all these ways of finding out about the past do you think is the best?
Explain why you think so.
d. Think about your family and community. Do you have any stories you have heard
about the past? What could you learn from these stories?

Activity 2: San and the Environment


1. Explain why the San moved from place to place.
2. What do we call people such as the San who move from place to place?
3. Which members of the San communities were hunters and which were gatherers?
4. An environmentalist is someone who looks after nature and tries to protect it. Do
you think the San were environmentalists? Explain.
5. How do members of modern society treat the environment?
Activity 3: Rock art
1. What did the San draw pictures of?
2. List the materials they would use as paint.
3. Why do you think the San figures and motto were used in the South African coat
of arms?
4. Explain why the motto is a good motto for South Africa.

Activity 4: The San and the KhoiKhoi:


1. In your work books, draw a table comparing the San to the KhoiKhoi. It should
compare: economy, size of the groups, ownership of land and animals and
movement.

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