1. Bantu Migrations
SSWH6

2. Who are the Bantu?
Bantu is the name given to a family of languages that began in Cameroon and Nigeria.
The people who spoke the language are commonly called Bantu Peoples. They are not a unified nation, simply a group of people who speak the same language.
The word “Bantu” comes from the root word “ntu” which means “people.”

3. Bantu Migration The Bantu migrations happened in two waves.
The first migration occurred between 2000 and 1000 BCE.
The second occurred between 1000 and 500 BCE.

4. Bantu Migration The migrations happened VERY SLOWLY.
Using primitive iron tools the Bantu would farm a plot of land for two or three years, but then the nutrients would be gone from the soil.
They would simply pick up their possessions and move two or three miles south. The process repeated over and over. Average speed = 1 mile per year.

5. I. Migration Causes Environmental Economic Political
Push – climate changes, earthquakes, drought/famine
Pull – new land (fertile land), new resources, climate
Economic
Push – unemployment, slavery
Pull – employment opportunities
Political
Push – religious or ethnic persecution, war
Pull – political or religious freedom

6. II. Effects of Migration
Positive
Change in population density
Cultural blending
Quality of life improves
Negative
Clashes between groups
Environmental changes – depletion of nutrients and natural resources
Poverty & unemployment

7. Cause Effect Examples Bantu Migration 1. Increased food production
2. Increase population density
3. Lack of sufficient land
Effect
1. Other people pushed out
2. Territorial Wars
3. Ideas and languages exchanged.
4. Ethnic groups intermingled
Examples
1. Bambuti and San pushed into smaller areas.
2.Bambuti and San fought the Bantu.
Bantu languages now spoken in much of Southern Africa

8. Zulus ploughing their land like they did in the old days

9. Why Not Go North?