Skaka Zulu Flashcards
What was the assegai
A long throwing spear
What did Shaka change the assegai into
A short stabbing spear
Who were Shaka’s parents
His father was the chief of the Zulu tribe. His mother, Nandi was not the chiefs wife. The chief and Nandi had an affair, so Shaka was considered an illegitimate child
What does Shaka Zulu mean
It means intestinal beetle heaven. When Nandi was pregnant, she used the excuse that she had intestinal beetles, and that she was not pregnant.
Where was Shaka raised
In his mothers settlement the Elangani
A where did Shaka go after the Elangani tribe
He went to the Mtethwa (most powerful tribe i the region)
What did Shaka do in the mtethwa tribe
First he served as a warrior for a man named Jobe and then for Jobe’s successor, Dingiswayo
What did Dingiswayo do when he found out that Shaka was of royal blood
He put him in charge of a regiment. This is where Shaka really began to refine his tactics
What was warfare like before Shaka changed it
It was a more of a ritual affair than a destructive one
How do we know about Shaka
From orally passed down stories. Accounts from European traders. Info that historians and archeologists
About how many people were there in the Zulu tribe to begin with
About 1500 in an area about 10 square miles
How many people (roughly)did the Zulu empire end up with
About 250 000
Who were the Zulu to begin with
They were a relatively minor tribe within the larger Bantu people. Lived in eastern part of South Africa
How was wealth measured
In cattle
What did the population mostly eat and drink
Milk and maize
What was their government
They operated under a kingship
Howe was war carried out
The warriors would meet at a predetermined location and fling spears and insults at each other (rarely move in for close quarters fighting). The casualties were few.
How did battles rarely end
the winning side would almost never follow up the victory by chasing down their opponents and conquering their land.
How did the wars end
They ended in a transfer of the small amount of land or cattle
What did Shaka change
He changes the weapons, the take is and the philosophy of hope war was caught
How did Shaka change the nature of the wars
He brought in close quarters combat. He changed it from settling minor disputes to an act of slaughter and conquest.
How did he change the weapons
He changed the long throwing spear into a short thrusting one
How did he change the tactics
He changed them from loose crowd to a tactic known as the bullhorn tactic
What age was Shaka sent to live with his mother at a trig earlier called Elangani
7
What were the traditional warriors armed with
Long throwing spears. They practiced their tactics, but they didn’t practice unit tactics
What is the bullhorn tactics
The men were split into three groups
• chest
• horns
• loins
What did the ‘chest’ do
It would charge the enemy and pin them in hand to hand combat
What did the ‘horns’ do
They were positioned of the side and they would flank and envelop the enemy
What did the ‘loins’ do
They were the reserves in case they were needed. They would sit behind the line.
How would the ‘loins’ sit
They would sit with their back to the fighting so they wouldn’t panic or charge the enemy before Shaka needs them
Why was the bullhorn tactic so effective
It was simple. It could easily be applied in chaotic conditions without much signaling
What did Shaka decide when his father died
He decided that he should take the throne
How did Shaka take the throne from his brother
He, with the help of Dingiswayo assassinated his half brother
Who was the Mthethwa chief
Dingiswayo
What happened when Shaka and Dingiswayo assassinated Shaka’s half brother
Dingiswayo stayed chief of the Zulus, but Shaka continued to serve him
What happen after a year of Shaka killing his brother
Dingiswayo was killed
Who was Dingiswayo killed by
Zwide
Who was Zwide
He was the ruler of the Ndwandwe: one of the most powerful tribes in the region
What did Shaka do when Dingiswayo was killed
He vowed enhance. He quickly took control and combined the Mthethwa, Zulu and many other tribes
What caused the Mfecane
Shaka’s vengeance and the war he was about to bring
What was the Mfecane
It was a time period of about 25 years of chaos and devastation
Why was the war became genocide
It was partl because of the Europeans (not all of them)
How were Europeans the cause of war becoming genocide
They were so different. They were wealthy, technologically separated. Their presence destabilized the nation
What happened as European trade increased
New crops were introduced, which led to a population increase, which led to greater commotion for land. European ships would trade for cattle to re supply their food stores, this made cattle even more valuable and led to an increase in raiding.
What do some people say led to the more coordinated and far more deadly tactics that Shaka was able to implement
Europeans were asking for ivory which was obtained from elephants. To take down an elephant, people need a large amount of coordination from a group of people.
What happened as a result of a drought
The more water hungry European plants to fail, which led to a famine
How was Shaka a military genius
- innovative
- used amabutho (male and female) limited marriage
- close quarters combat
- Shaka’s ability and skill was. Noticed by Dingiswayo who then assigned an amabutho to Shaka end eventually makes him leader of the Zulus
- led the Zulu to military glory
- military victories including ndwandwe
How was Shaka a cruel tyrant
• When Nandi died, his rule grew harsher (psychopathic tendencies)
• British colonial portrayal – bloodthirsty dictator
• justified taking land away from Zulu
• justified conquest of the Zulu
(British trader- Francis Fynn)
How was Shaka a nation builder
• he used peaceful diplomacy to incorporate other tribes into Zulu kingdom - promised protection and loyalty
• incorporated Mthethwa into Zulu tribe after Dingiswayo’ death
• built the Zulu nation –> powerful –> trade (British and Portuguese: guns)–> conquer Ndwandwe
•
How was Shaka portrayed in the 20th century
• Lithuli (1962) autobiography- Xhosa (ANC) * good leadership abilities * tendency towards dictatorship • Source E * brilliant general * intelligent, able, courageous * violated customs of his people * despot lacking compassion * man of his time * his rule grew harsher with time * tyrant • Buthelezi (Zulu- IFP leader ) •Source G * pride * inspiring leader * can learn from Shaka especially regarding human relationships * good deeds = misdeeds * lived in quest for knowledge * source of Zulu heritage
How is Shaka portrayed today
- Durban international airport named after Shaka
- shaka land
- UShaka Marine-land
- shaka T.V. Series
What was the main cause of the Ndwandwe tribe’s breakup
Not the attack of the Zulu’s, but internal divisions.
What were the internal decisions in the Ndwandwe tribe about
There are disagreements about whether to focus on trading with the north or fighting the Zulu.
Which side was zwide of and where did they move to when they split up
He moved north to what is now southern Swaziland
Where did the people who wanted to focus on trading go
The moved to Delano’s bay
What did shaka use to expand his power and control
He sent amabutho to neighboring chiefdoms. Older versions of history says that these raids were violent. However, now, historians believes that shaka also used diplomacy to expand his power and control
How did Shaka use diplomacy
He would provide hem with protection from the larger tribe if they did not threaten
What happened to the Zulu state under Shaka’s rule
It became more militarised
What were the three classes in the Zulu society
At the tops were the king, the royal family and chiefs. Second was the amabutho and their families. Throw were the workers such as cattle herders
What was another factor that helped the Zulu kingdom grow more powerful
Trade
What did the Zulu trade and with who did they trade with
They trade ivory and cattle for manufactured goods, cloth and guns from the British and Portuguese
Why did Shaka atack the Ndwandwe tribe the second time
It may have been because he had access to firearms
Who was in charge of the Ndwandwe after Zwide
Zwide’s son, Sikhunyana
Who was zwide’s son
Sikhunyana
Who joined Shaka’s forces in the attack
Port Natal traders
Was Shaka successful in defeating the Ndwandwe the second time
Yes. Many were killed and their cattle was taken. As a result of the Zulu’s victory, many of the Ndwandwe joined the Zulu tribe and promised loyalty to Shaka.
What happened to Shaka after he defeated the Ndwandwe
He became more ruthless against those he believed were against him as there was no threat of the Ndwandwe attacking the Zulu
What happened when Shaka’s mother died
He had many of his opponents killed. He said that no new crops were to planted for a year. He said that no milk was to be drunk. He said that any woman who became pregnant, would be executed along with her husband. He killed all of the mother cows, so that the calfs would know what it felt like to loose a mother.
Who ordered the assassination of Shaka
His two half brothers - Dingane and Mhlangana
What happened to the Zulu state when Dingane came into power
He removed all the chiefs that had supported Shaka. He gained the trust of the amabutho by allowing them to set up homesteads and have families. He wanted to have more control over the Delego Bay trade routes. When his control over the trade routes was threatened, he killed the Portuguese governor. The Zulu state became the most powerful in the region
What are seen to be the two causes of the Mfecane
Shaka. Other historians however believe that the Zulu were not the cause or the mfecane, but the product of the chain of events that had started earlier.
Ho was Shaka the “ cause of the mfecane “
Early historians believe that Shaka is the cause of the Mfecane because of how Shaka rose from the leader of a small chiefdom to prominence through fighting and diplomacy This version of Beth says that Shaka and the Zulu were responsible conq\uering the majority of modern-day Kwazulu-Natal. He was said to have defeated the Ndwandwe.
