Rose Heights Primary School

Social Science Grade 6

Answers to worksheet one

Question 1: Explain the terms given below:

• Globalization: Trade on a world wide scale.

• Hierarchy: A system in which members of a society are ranked according to relevant status or authority.

• Ritual: A ceremony that is done in the same way at all times.

• Swahili: The language and culture of the people living on the east African coast.

Question 2: Choose the correct answer from the given list:

Complex, simple, Durban, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Limpopo, one thousand, Great, Africa, Asian, Indian, Globalization, Arab, Islamic, Swahili, Order, kingdom, Atlantic, Indian, Mediterranean, Pacific, North.

Mapungubuwe was a ______A_____society that developed in the _____B______River Valley about ______C___-years ago. Mapungubwe’s trade network covered what is today ______D______Zimbabwe and Southern ______E______It also had links across the ______F_____Ocean, to the Middle East and through ______G______today. The area is populated by _____H______Speaking people and it is a World ______I______Site. The ______J______of Mapungubwe is a special award given to South African Citizens for exceptional service.

A. Complex B. Limpopo C. One thousand D. Great E. Africa F. Indian G. Mediterranean H. Swahili I. Heritage J. Order

Question 3: State whether the following statements are true or false .Correct the statement to make it true.

3.1 Historians can learn about Mapungubwe by reading books from people that live in Free –State.

False. Knowledge pertaining to Mapungubwe can be obtained by reading books written by people that lived on the Mapungubwe Hill.

3.2 Mapungubwe was the second state in Southern Africa.

False. Mapungubwe is the first state in South Africa.

3.3 Leaders and their families lived together with the ordinary families.

False. Leaders and their families and the wealthy people lived on the top of the hill whilst the poor and middle class families lived at the bottom of the hill.

3.4 The ordinary people had always conducted the rain making ritual.

False. The rain making ritual was conducted by the king only.

3.5 The most significant symbol of Mapungubwe is an Elephant carved out of wood which is covered by gold.

False. It is a rhino carved out of wood which is covered in gold.

(10)

Question 4: Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:

In the early first millennium African Farmers had settled in small villages over parts of Southern Africa .A few hundred people lived in each village and did not depend on other villages. A group of villages sometimes formed part of a larger village ruled by a chief. Between 900AD AD 1300AD ,farming communities became more complex .This means that they became bigger and more organized .Societies became more complicated in the way they were rules. K2 and Schroda are archaeological sites in the Limpopo River Valley. Hence, these archaeological sites were settlements of African farming communities before Mapungubwe. Accessed from www.e- classroom.co.za 4.1 What did the rhino symbolize to the people of Mapungubwe?

The rhino was a symbol of leadership because it is fierce and likes to be left alone. The horn of the rhino symbolizes the role of the leader as a protector of his people.

4.2 Compare the early settlements at K2 and Schroda with the later settlements at Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe. (2)

4.2.1 K2 and Schroda

- K2 and Schroda were archaeological sites in the Limpopo River Valley. Both sites were settlements of African farming communities. Traders had visited these sites as they wanted ivory .Farmers had then started to take part in ivory trade. Men hunted wild elephants for things like glass beads from the East.

4.2.2 Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe

- About 5000 people lived in the town of Mapungubwe below the hill. It was the first African farming town in Southern Africa and the largest African farming settlement of that time. The rulers at Mapungubwe lived at the top of the hill and the ordinary people lived at the bottom. In this way the social hierarchy was physically obvious as ordinary people were kept separate from the rulers.

- Great Zimbabwe is named after Mapungubwe. It is an African trading state. This was a complexed kingdom where the king, his family and advisors had more power than the ordinary people.

4.3 Explain the social structure and economic activity at Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe. (2) Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe were African trading states. These were complex kingdoms, the king his family and advisors had more power than the ordinary people.

4.4 Explain why gold was valued at Mapungubwe. (1)

Gold symbolized status and this was valued in the African culture.

4.5 Who did Marco Polo work for in China? (1)

Kublai Khan.

4.6 List two examples of things that he brought with him from China. (2)

Spices, Ivory, coal, jewels,

4.7 Why was Marco Polo such a prominent figure in the history of Europe?

Marco Polo had educated people on the inventions that occurred in China. He had also provided readers information about the great civilizations in Asia which many people did not know about.

4. In what country was Marco Polo born?

Europe

4.9 State one intervention that Marco Polo reported on in his book about his travels.

Gunpowder, printing, paper money and the compass.