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During Pre-colonial period there was the number of economic activities practiced by African. The main economic activities in the pre-colonial period can be classified into three main categories
Types of agriculture practice included;
It was practiced along the Indian Ocean coast, North West and Highland areas of Central Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru and Usambara Mountains in Southern highlands. Livestock keeping was also practiced under this type of agriculture.
Before colonialism this type of farming was practiced in grasslands where there was a moderate rainfall, in the tropical woodlands, in the steppe areas and in the highland areas that enjoy seasonal rainfall
People practiced mixed farming included The Ankole in Uganda, Kimbu and Sukuma, Wagogo, and Nyamwezi in Tanzania and they also included Kamba and Kikuyu in Kenya.
Pastoralist depended on animal products such as meat, milk, blood and skin which were shared among the family members, livestock belonged to the entire family.
Pastoralism was commonly practiced in dryland which had scarce rainfall, these include Arid and semi-Arid areas of East Africa such as Northern Kenya extending to the Central past of Kenya.
Other pastoralists occupied the tropical grassland. These were the Karamajong and Teso in Northern Uganda and Maasai in Southern Kenya and Northern part of Tanzania. The tropical grassland received very little rainfall.
Pastoral communities were nomadic; they had no permanent settlement, they were always moving in search of pastures and water for their livestock.
IMPACT OF AGRICULTURE TO THE TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
Handcraft means production or manufacturing of goods by using both hand and artistic skills, for example in pre-colonial era in order to suit their needs. The major and crafts produced were irons melting and salt extraction, pottery, cloth making and carpentry.
Some of the famous people in handcraft were the Makonde of Tanzania and Mozambique, Fipa from Rukwa and Nyamwezi.
Importance of Handcraft Industries
Types of Industries
The art of making iron was the most important discovery that shaped man’s social and economic development. The blacksmiths were able to identify rocks that contained iron ores.
The knowledge of iron making was kept secret by those societies that practiced it. Examples of societies that developed iron smelting technology include Mapumbugwe in South Africa, The shona of Zimbabwe, Meru of Kenya, Kerewe, Buhaya and Zinza of Geita and Buganda people from Uganda
During pre-colonial African societies there were two types of trade;
Advantages of Long Distance Trade in Central and East Africa were;
Disadvantages of Long distance trade
Evolution of Man, Technology and Environment Development of Social and Political Systems in Africa
- Agriculture
- Handcraft Industries
- Trade
- Agriculture
Types of agriculture practice included;
- Permanent crop cultivation
- Shifting agriculture
- Mixed farming
- Pastoralism
- Permanent Crop Cultivation
It was practiced along the Indian Ocean coast, North West and Highland areas of Central Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru and Usambara Mountains in Southern highlands. Livestock keeping was also practiced under this type of agriculture.
- Shifting Agriculture
- Mixed Farming
Before colonialism this type of farming was practiced in grasslands where there was a moderate rainfall, in the tropical woodlands, in the steppe areas and in the highland areas that enjoy seasonal rainfall
People practiced mixed farming included The Ankole in Uganda, Kimbu and Sukuma, Wagogo, and Nyamwezi in Tanzania and they also included Kamba and Kikuyu in Kenya.
- Pastoralism
Pastoralist depended on animal products such as meat, milk, blood and skin which were shared among the family members, livestock belonged to the entire family.
Pastoralism was commonly practiced in dryland which had scarce rainfall, these include Arid and semi-Arid areas of East Africa such as Northern Kenya extending to the Central past of Kenya.
Other pastoralists occupied the tropical grassland. These were the Karamajong and Teso in Northern Uganda and Maasai in Southern Kenya and Northern part of Tanzania. The tropical grassland received very little rainfall.
Pastoral communities were nomadic; they had no permanent settlement, they were always moving in search of pastures and water for their livestock.
IMPACT OF AGRICULTURE TO THE TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
- Improvement in agriculture resulted in increased food production. This in turn led to rapid population growth
- Availability of adequate food enable people to trade and engage in other economic activities
- Cultivation of crops encouraged permanent settlement
- Areas used as a market places grew into urban centers
- Led to the improvement of other economic activities such as Trade and handcraft industries
- Agricultural also led to introduction of medicine
- Handcraft Industries
Handcraft means production or manufacturing of goods by using both hand and artistic skills, for example in pre-colonial era in order to suit their needs. The major and crafts produced were irons melting and salt extraction, pottery, cloth making and carpentry.
Some of the famous people in handcraft were the Makonde of Tanzania and Mozambique, Fipa from Rukwa and Nyamwezi.
Importance of Handcraft Industries
- They helped to identify the culture of a given people
- Some handcraft produced used in traditional, religious and cultural activities
- They were used as a symbol of Power by Kings
- Some traditional societies used handcrafts to symbolize social prestige, beauty and identity
- Some handcraft products were used as storage facilities such as spoons and furniture.
Types of Industries
- Salt- making extraction
- Iron smelting
The art of making iron was the most important discovery that shaped man’s social and economic development. The blacksmiths were able to identify rocks that contained iron ores.
The knowledge of iron making was kept secret by those societies that practiced it. Examples of societies that developed iron smelting technology include Mapumbugwe in South Africa, The shona of Zimbabwe, Meru of Kenya, Kerewe, Buhaya and Zinza of Geita and Buganda people from Uganda
- TRADE
During pre-colonial African societies there were two types of trade;
- Local trade
- Regional or long distance trade
- Local trade
- Regional/long distance trade
Advantages of Long Distance Trade in Central and East Africa were;
- Growth of States such as Buganda, Mirambo, Mkwa’s Mwanamutapa
- Acquisition of new experience and skills for example iron working
- It strengthened local contacts between different communities
- People were able to get commodities that they were not able to produce
- It strengthening some peoples economy
Disadvantages of Long distance trade
- It led to the fall of some states such as Kazembe, Maravi, Manua and Sere of Tabora
- Devastation of economic activity due to slave trade
- Occurrence of Insecurity
- formation of classes between rich and poor people
Evolution of Man, Technology and Environment Development of Social and Political Systems in Africa