Life in a first-farmer village
Life in an early farming village: migration, the homestead, division of work, leadership and barter. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.
Know it already? Jump straight to the quiz
Work in the village
| Who | Work |
|---|---|
| Boys | Herding the animals |
| Girls | Fetching water and wood |
| Men | Clearing fields and herding |
| Women | Planting, harvesting, grinding grain, cooking and making pots |
Huts of poles, daga and grass. Grain was stored in raised baskets or pits. Barter: a farmer with extra sorghum swaps it for salt; villages swapped iron tools, pots and grain. Wealth: many cattle. Sick people were treated with plant medicines from healers.
Sources
The Lydenburg Heads (Lydenburg/Mashishing, Mpumalanga) were probably used in important ceremonies. Researchers learn about these people by studying what is dug up. Hunter-gatherers moved around and grew no crops.
Remember this and test yourself
- The first African farmers moved in from the north, over the Limpopo (migration).
- Villages near rivers for water and fertile soil; they stayed because crops and animals needed care.
- Crops: sorghum, millet and beans. Livestock: cattle, sheep and goats. The cattle kraal was in the centre of the homestead.
- The chief was highest and decided with a council of headmen, including who got which land.
- Blacksmiths were highly respected, because they made the tools everyone needed.
Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.
The farmers came from the top: from the north, over the Limpopo.
Important words
First say what the word means, then turn the card over.
Match column A to column B
Tap a word in column A, then its meaning in column B. You can also start in column B.
True or false?
Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.
Now the real quiz!
The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.
Take the quiz: Life in a first-farmer village- Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
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Follows CAPS for Grade 5 Social Sciences (History). Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.