Mapungubwe in depth
Mapungubwe in depth: K2, the hill and the valley, trade and crafts, decline and recognition. 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
On a timeline
What archaeologists find
- Crafts: ivory carving (from elephants), spinning and metalwork. Bones, seeds and grindstones show what people ate; pottery helps date layers.
- The golden rhino was found in the 1930s; the collection is at the University of Pretoria.
- Mapungubwe was ignored for long because it did not suit apartheid’s view of history. In 2003 it gained World Heritage status, and the Order of Mapungubwe is named after it.
- Don’t pick up objects: moving something destroys evidence.
The first state in southern Africa
- Mapungubwe was the first state in southern Africa: one king ruled over many settlements.
- It was also the first town: perhaps about 5 000 people lived in the valley around the hill.
- The king lived in the first stone-walled palace on top of the hill, apart from ordinary people: the kingship was sacred.
On foot to the coast. There were no horses, wagons or roads. Carriers took gold, ivory and skins hundreds of kilometres to ports such as Sofala on the coast of Mozambique, on their heads and backs.
| Dangers | Finding the way |
|---|---|
| Wild animals: lions, elephants, crocodiles in the rivers | Follow rivers such as the Limpopo |
| Heat and thirst | Use known footpaths and landmarks such as hills |
| Diseases such as malaria | Watch the sun and the stars |
| Robbers | Travel in groups and ask local guides |
Remember this and test yourself
- The Limpopo valley had grazing, game and a trade route; K2 (Bambandyanalo) came first, then Mapungubwe for about 70 years.
- The ruler and royal household on the hilltop; the valley below: society had ranks.
- Gold: a small golden rhino, a sceptre and a bowl in elite graves. Imported: glass beads and Chinese ceramics.
- Inside the kingdom cattle were the main form of wealth; they farmed sorghum and millet.
- It was a kingdom because it ruled over other settlements.
Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.
S-K-M: Schroda, K2, Mapungubwe — “Start low, Keep going, Move up the hill”.
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: Mapungubwe in depth- Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
- The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.
Follows CAPS for Grade 6 Social Sciences (History). Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.