Colonisation of the Cape Flashcards
When did the Dutch and English from trading companies
Early 17th century
Why did the Dutch and English create trading companies
To challenge the Portugese and Spanish dominations of the trade between Europe & Asia
Name the 2 most well known companies formed and their origins
The East India Company was British & the VOC was Dutch
How did the VOC use its power to expand the Dutch Empire
Taking possession of land, expanding trade routes and establishing trade outposts
What countries did the VOC take possession of
Batavia, Indonesia, Columbo (SL) Malabar (India) Makassar and Dutch East Indies
By 1620 what were the VOC’s major trading commodities
Cotton and silk
Where did they source the cotton and silk
China & India
What were the VOC and East India Company using the Cape for
A half way stop
What would they do during these stops
Setup tents along the Cape shore to trade with the Khoi Khoi, dump prisoners and mutineers
What is a mutineer
A soldier or sailor who who rebels or refuses to obey the orders of a person in authority.
Where did the British leave prisoners
Robben Island
Where did the Dutch dump mutineers
Table Bay
For what purpose was a refreshment station set up and when
1651, provide fresh supplies of vegetables, fruit and meat for VOC trading ships
How long was Jan van Riebeeck put on a contract for to set up the refreshment station
5 years
What else was JVR instructed to build
A fort to protect the station against the Khoikhoi and other European competitors
How long was JVR at sea before he arrived in the Cape of Good Hope
5 months
What was the name of the ship he was on
Drommedaris
What was the first thing that they did on arrival at the Cape of Good Hope
They built mud and wooden structures for shelter defence
Why did the Dutch government permit their men to own land and farm
They needed to ensure good food supply
Why was most of the food still brought on ships from the Netherlands
The farms couldn’t meet the demand
How were the men stationed at the Cape saved from starvation
By arrival of a ship carrying rice from Madagascar
What was the next attempt to increase food production
VOC released employees from contracts and gave them freehold land along the Liesbeek Valley for them to start farming
What were the “free burgers” provided with
Seeds, tools and loans to start their farms
What strict instructions were given to the free burgers
They could only sell their produce to the VOC and were not allowed to trade with the khoi khoi
