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The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century

Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2008.

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Other Authors: Grobler, John Edward Holloway
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Grobler, John Edward Holloway
author_browse Grobler, John Edward Holloway
author_facet Grobler, John Edward Holloway
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv ©University of Pretoria 2008 E1140/
description Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2008.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29592
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:42.914Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29592 The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century Grobler, John Edward Holloway Mlambo, Alois S. upetd@up.ac.za Scotch, Kangangwani Knight Hilltops Valleys Botswana Tswana UCTD Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2008. In previous studies about the histories of the Tswana in general and those in present day south east Botswana in particular in the 19th century, some scholars either consciously or unconsciously made overstatements about the politics of war to the detriment of other crucial socio-economic factors. The settlement nexus of the Tswana especially on particular hills in present day south east Botswana has been mainly attributed to security measures against warfare which apparently appeared to be a perpetual phenomenon. Very little was said about the equally important socio-economic aspects. That was because the settlement patterns and situations of the Tswana were not a priority in the previous studies hence understatements about their socio-economic outlooks, development and adaptations. This study seeks to juxtapose, in a balanced manner, both the political and socio-economic realities in the 19th century. It has been established that whereas warfare played a crucial role in the settlement nexus of some Tswana groups on particular hills during the Mfecane and after the Boer-Bakwena war of 1852, there were other concurrent pulling factors. These included topography, prestige, adequate water supplies, the proximity of watercourses, the wide distribution of fertile soils and sustainable pastures, the abundance of iron ore deposits, wild animals and veld products, the availability and accessibility of building materials, the threats of periodic flash floods and river flooding, the diverse population densities and the magico-religious beliefs. The Tswana were fulltime, subsistence mixed farmers and part-time hunters and gatherers and as such they were, to a large extent, preoccupied with arable, pastoral, hunting and gathering activities that sustained their standard of living. To that endeavour, the Tswana had effectively occupied their chosen sites on particular hills and valleys up to today. The settlement nexus of the Tswana was well organised. The chiefs made major decisions about the need to migrate to those areas of settlement. The subsequent settlement patterns of the Tswana epitomised their socio-economic needs, cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge and vision, and administrative forms. Historical and Heritage Studies unrestricted 2013-09-07T16:02:52Z 2008-12-01 2013-09-07T16:02:52Z 2008-09-05 2008-12-01 2008-11-19 Dissertation 2008 E1140/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29592 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11192008-125100/ ©University of Pretoria 2008 E1140/ application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Hilltops
Valleys
Botswana
Tswana
UCTD
The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century
title The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century
title_full The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century
title_fullStr The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century
title_full_unstemmed The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century
title_short The settlement nexus of the southern Tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east Botswana in the 19th century
title_sort settlement nexus of the southern tswana on hilltops and valleys in present day south east botswana in the 19th century
topic Hilltops
Valleys
Botswana
Tswana
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29592
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11192008-125100/