The Khoesan: Herding and Social Order
Herding
The Khoesan initially lived a subsistence lifestyle based on hunting and gathering. During the late 1st millennium BCE and early 1st millennium CE, some groups transitioned to livestock herding.
The Kwadi, Khoekhoe, and Khwe began herding at different times during this period. In contrast, the Zhu and Tuu retained their traditional hunting and gathering practices.
Herding led to increased nomadism, with groups moving frequently to find suitable grazing lands. Eventually, pigs were introduced to the region by newly arriving populations.
Social Order
Early Khoesan bands were small, typically consisting of 25–30 members, and were structured around kinship ties. This close-knit system allowed them to thrive in challenging environments.
As herding enabled group expansion, the Khoekhoe, Kwadi, and Khwe developed new systems of social organization. Kinship became less effective with group sizes approaching 100, so they adopted patrilineage — tracing descent through the male line.
With further growth, clan-based systems emerged. Clans, led by chiefs, helped manage larger communities effectively.
Summary of Social Structures:
- Kinship: 25–30 members
- Patrilineage: Up to ~100 members
- Clan-based structures: More than 100 members
Conclusion
The rise of herding was a key factor in the social evolution of the Khoesan. While the Zhu and Tuu maintained smaller, traditional groups, the Kwadi, Khoekhoe, and Khwe expanded through herding and developed more complex social systems.
This demonstrates the mutual reinforcement between herding practices and social organization in Khoesan society.
Link to presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-5N-H-lRk3qzR0dKaOYcohAG7hETNgxzco79ga-Copk/mobilepresent?slide=id.p
