Introduction to History and Government
Introduction to History and Government
In this subject you will learn about the past and present which will eventually help you understand the future. You will therefore be in a position to recognize the relationship between the events of today and the world of tomorrow. This subject opens you to the universe.
Sources of Information on History and Government
This is where information on History and Government is obtained. There are three main sources of historical information,
This is where information on History and Government is obtained. There are three main sources of historical information
Unwritten Sources
They are sources of Historical Information which are not found in any recorded form. They include;-
oral traditions
Archaeology
Anthopology
Genetics
Linguistics
Palaeontology
We shall discuss each source in detail.
Oral Traditions
Oral tradition is the passing of information from one person to another or from one generation to another by word of mouth. This information is passed through:
Oral traditions are very important in informing History and Government. However they have their own advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of oral traditions
Oral traditions have the following advantages;
Disadvantages of Oral tradition
Oral traditions have the following disadvantages;
Historical linguistics is the study of language as it changes in the course of time. It traces the form, content and vocabulary in order to understand the historical background of the people who speak it. Please click on the start button in the animation below to take note of the pronunciation of the word ‘person’ by different Bantu communities.
Advantages of linguistics
Linguistics has the following advantages;
Limitations of Linguistics
Linguistics has the following limitations;
History Paper 1 Topic By Topic Questions And Answers
HISTORY NOTES FORM 2: NEW SYLLABUS SIMPLIFIED NOTES
HISTORY NOTES FORM 3: NEW SYLLABUS SIMPLIFIED NOTES
History & Government notes and exams for forms 1, 2, 3 and 4 free downloads
HISTORY NOTES FORM 4: NEW SYLLABUS SIMPLIFIED NOTES
HISTORY NOTES FORM ONE: NEW SYLLABUS SIMPLIFIED NOTES
HISTORY NOTES FORM 1-4: COMPLETE HISTORY NOTES
History Paper 2 Topic By Topic Questions And Answers (All Topics)
History and Government free lesson plans for all topics (Form one to four)
Archaeology is the study of material remains from past human life and culture. This is done through the following methods;
Archaeology is the main source of history
Excavation
Archaeological excavation is the scientific recovery of past cultural materials by means of digging. Such materials include bones, stone tools and pieces of pottery and remains of houses, among others. Excavations at Marmonet Drift, Naivasha 2003- courtesy M D Kyule
Archaeological remains, stone tools
Other archaeological methods
Other methods of Archeology besides excavation inclue the following;
Survey
This is the deliberate search for archeological sites and materials
Experimentation
It is a recreation of artefacts and patterns found in excavated sites in order to understand how the artifacts were made and how the patterns were formed Ethno archeology
It is the study of present day pre industrial cultures to help interpret materials found in archeological sites
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of a peoples culture. Anthropologists help archaeologists to use present day human relationships to suggest what may have been happening in the past. The picture below depicts an aspect of peoples culture
Paleontology
Paleontology is the study of fossils. Fossils are preserved remains of animals and plants that existed in the past. Paleontologists help archaeologists by establishing the nature of plants, humans and other animals that existed in the past.
Genetics is the study of how biological characteristics (genes) are transmitted from parents to their children. Genetics provides archaeologists with information that can be used to establish the biological relationship between different communities.
Geology
This is the study of earth’s structure and processes. Geology helps archaeologists to know when certain events happened in the past. Fossils entrapped in the rocks can have their age traced if one can trace the years the rocks were formed.
Geologists from University of Nairobi at work along the theEnamankeon region, Narok District, Kenya-Kyule
Advantages of archaeology
Archaeology has the following advantages;
Limitations of Archaeology
Archaeology has the following limitations;
Early Man
Various theories are advanced about the origin of man. In this session we will look at some of these theories that explain where man came from. This picture from the museum of Kenya show the various phases of man’s development.
Stages of mans development
The video clip shows the various stages of evolution
Origin of Man
Human beings are different from animals because they;
This makes human beings unique. Historians are therefore interested in understanding the origin and development of human beings. In this lesson we are going to learn about the various theories of origin of man.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF MAN
There are three main theories which explain the origin of man
1. creation theory
Gods creation
2. traditional / mythical theory
An illustration of mythical believe on origin of Maasai
3. evolution theory
Social, Economic and Political organisation of Kenyan Societies in the 19th century. Before we start on this topic, it is important to review the topic on the peoples of Kenya up to the 19th century.
THE BANTU
The term Bantu refers to a group of people who speak related languages. They make up the largest language group in Africa
Bantu migration and settlement
The Social, Political and Economic Organization of TheAmeru In The 19th Century
The Ameru belong the Eastern group of the Bantu. As they migrated, they interacted with various communities. This interaction enabled them to develop a system of government that ensured high standards of morality and stability.
There are several sub-tribes of the Ameru
These are:
-Igembe
-Tigania
-Imanti
-Miitine
-Igoji
-Mwimbi
-Muthambi
-Chuka
-Tharaka
FAMILY TREE
Creation Theory
According to this theory, God created everything in the universe. It also states that God created man in His own image and put him to control the rest of the creation. It asserts that humans, as well as the rest of the natural world, were created by one or more supernatural beings or gods.
MYTHICAL AND TRADITIONAL THEORY
Traditional theories differ from one community to another. Each community has its own myth, explaining their origin. They all believed that they were created by a supernatural being for a special purpose. Some of the common traditional theories include that of the Agikuyu which states that their Ngai created the first man called Gikuyu and provided him with a wife, Mumbi, and gave them land at MukurwewaNyagathanga. Gikuyu and Mumbi became the ancestors of the Kikuyu community
Gikuyu, Mumbi and their 9 daughters
The Luos myth of creation states that they were created by God (Nyasaye), and placed at Ramogi hills. This become the ancestors of the Luo people .Ramogi believed to be ancestor of the Luo
The ancient Egyptians believed that man was created by God who governed with the help of other gods, whose earthly representative was the Pharaoh.
Evolution Theory
Another theory advanced on the origin of man is the evolution theory by a man called Charles Darwin. This theory states that man has been changing over time as a result of adaptation to changing environments. According to Charles Darwin, all living things evolved from simple living cells to complicated plants and animals we have today.
We have said that man has been changing over time as a result of adaptation to changing environments. We have also said that all living things evolved from simple living cells to complicated plants and animals that there are today. Evolution of humans takes place through:
By the end of this lesson you should be able to:
Stages of Evolution
Man is believed to be an evolving creature due to change in the environment. This came about through several stages as illustrated on the tree of evolution shown.
Evolution tree
The following illustrations show the difference between man and the ape from whom he is believed to have descended.
The earliest primate related to humans is known as Aegyptopithecus (Egyptian ape). Aegyptopithecus lived 35-33 million years ago and its fossils have been found in the Fayum Desert in Egypt. They ate fruits, weighed 4 kgs, had enclosed eye sockets and had 32 teeth.
Dryopithecus
The next primate related to humans is an ape known as Dryopithecus. Its fossils have been found in Rusinga Island in Lake victoria, Kenya. they have also been found in North Eastern Europe and South East Asia. Dryopithecus had Long teeth and walked on four limbs. they lived from 12 to 9 million years ago.
Kenyapithecus
Kenyapithecus is another primate ape related to early humans. The remains have been found in Kericho, Fort Tenan, Samburu Hills and Ngorora in East Africa. Those that have been found in Asia are known as Ramapithecus. He lived 14 million years ago, walked on four limbs and had small canines.
Australopithecus
Australopithecus is a genus of extinct apes that are likely to be ancestral to human beings. They lived in Africa between 4 and 1 million years ago. At least seven species of australopithecines are now generally recognized. These are Australopithecus afarensis, A. africanus, A. bahrelghazali, A. anamensis, A. boisei, A. robustus, and A. aethiopicus.
They were bipedal and had an upright posture. Their teeth were more humanlike than apelike, but their brains were small and not very different from those of living apes. They weighed between 36 and 66kgs and were 1.5 metres tall.
Australopithecus also known as the southern ape is believed to have existed some 4 million years ago in the Eastern and Southern Africa. It is known to be the earliest hominid closer to modern man. It is estimated to have weighed between 36-66kgs. He was about 1.5 metres tall and had powerful teeth. This hominid is said to have walked with 2 legs (biped) and walked upright. The picture is of Australopithecus anamensis from the national museums of Kenya.
Homo Habilis
A type of extinct humans regarded as the earliest member of the human genus, Homo. The name Homo habilis means ‘handy man’. They inhabited parts of sub-Saharan Africa about 2-1.5 million years ago. Remains were first discovered in 1959 at Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania; then at Koobi Fora in the Lake Turkana region of northern Kenya and at Sterkfontein in South Africa. They walked upright and were able to make and use crude tools refered to as the Oldowan tools. It is possible that homo habilis lived at the same time with the robust Australopithecines (A. robustus /paranthropus), and perhaps also early Homo ergaster.
Homo ergaster
Homo ergaster (‘working man’) lived throughout eastern and southern Africa between 1.9 to 1.4 million years ago. The equivalent of Homo ergaster outside Africa is known as Homo erectus. The most complete Homo ergaster skeleton is the 1.6 million year old specimen known as the ‘Turkana Boy’, discovered in 1984 at Lake Turkana, Kenya.
Homo ergaster may be distinguished from H. erectus by its thinner skull bones and more straight jawed face; It is estimated that H. ergaster stood at 1.9 m. tall. Remains have been found in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa. H. ergaster has been associated with use of advanced tools known as the Acheulean industry. The Acheulean comprised various tools such as hand-axes and cleavers. Charred animal bones in fossil deposits and traces of camps suggest that the species made creative use of fire.
Homo erectus is best presented by a specimen commonly referred to as the ‘Turkana boy’. This species was found on the western part of Lake Turkana, a place called Nariokotome in Kenya. The movie clip provided shows the whole skeleton of the species obtained from the National Museums of Kenya. The new discovery of Homo erectus by DrManthi of Museums of Kenya
Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens (intelligent or thinking man) refer to a species into which all modern human beings belong. The oldest known fossil remains of Homo sapiens date to between 120,000 and 400,000 years ago years ago. Some sites where fossil remains of Homo sapiens have been found include Eliye Springs near Lake Turkana, Kanjera and Kanam in Kenya, Omo River Valley in Ethiopia and Ngaloba in Tanzania.
Homo sapiens is distinguished from earlier species of Homo by characteristics and habits such as bipedal stance, brain capacity averaging about 1,350 cc, high forehead, small teeth and jaw, defined chin, construction and use of tools. He is said to be the transition between Homo erectus and “you and me”
Homo sapien sapiens, also known as modern human beings had virtually occupied the entire globe by 13,000 years ago. Modern humans generally have more delicate skeletons. Their skulls are more rounded and their brow ridges generally protrude much less. They also have relatively high foreheads and pointed chins. Scholars suggest that Homo sapien sapiens evolved from Homo sapiens primarily in Eastern Africa, and that they had spread to Asia by around 60,000 years ago, and to Europe by 46,000 years ago.
Early human cultural and economic activities
Culture is a peoples way of life. It includes peoples:
FAMILY TREE
Creation Theory
According to this theory, God created everything in the universe. It also states that God created man in His own image and put him to control the rest of the creation. It asserts that humans, as well as the rest of the natural world, were created by one or more supernatural beings or gods.
MYTHICAL AND TRADITIONAL THEORY
Traditional theories differ from one community to another. Each community has its own myth, explaining their origin. They all believed that they were created by a supernatural being for a special purpose. Some of the common traditional theories include that of the Agikuyu which states that their Ngai created the first man called Gikuyu and provided him with a wife, Mumbi, and gave them land at MukurwewaNyagathanga. Gikuyu and Mumbi became the ancestors of the Kikuyu community
Gikuyu, Mumbi and their 9 daughters
The Luos myth of creation states that they were created by God (Nyasaye), and placed at Ramogi hills. This become the ancestors of the Luo people .Ramogi believed to be ancestor of the Luo
The ancient Egyptians believed that man was created by God who governed with the help of other gods, whose earthly representative was the Pharaoh.
Evolution Theory
Another theory advanced on the origin of man is the evolution theory by a man called Charles Darwin. This theory states that man has been changing over time as a result of adaptation to changing environments. According to Charles Darwin, all living things evolved from simple living cells to complicated plants and animals we have today.
We have said that man has been changing over time as a result of adaptation to changing environments. We have also said that all living things evolved from simple living cells to complicated plants and animals that there are today. Evolution of humans takes place through:
By the end of this lesson you should be able to:
Stages of Evolution
Man is believed to be an evolving creature due to change in the environment. This came about through several stages as illustrated on the tree of evolution shown.
Evolution tree
The following illustrations show the difference between man and the ape from whom he is believed to have descended.
The earliest primate related to humans is known as Aegyptopithecus (Egyptian ape). Aegyptopithecus lived 35-33 million years ago and its fossils have been found in the Fayum Desert in Egypt. They ate fruits, weighed 4 kgs, had enclosed eye sockets and had 32 teeth.
Dryopithecus
The next primate related to humans is an ape known as Dryopithecus. Its fossils have been found in Rusinga Island in Lake victoria, Kenya. they have also been found in North Eastern Europe and South East Asia. Dryopithecus had Long teeth and walked on four limbs. they lived from 12 to 9 million years ago.
Kenyapithecus
Kenyapithecus is another primate ape related to early humans. The remains have been found in Kericho, Fort Tenan, Samburu Hills and Ngorora in East Africa. Those that have been found in Asia are known as Ramapithecus. He lived 14 million years ago, walked on four limbs and had small canines.
Australopithecus
Australopithecus is a genus of extinct apes that are likely to be ancestral to human beings. They lived in Africa between 4 and 1 million years ago. At least seven species of australopithecines are now generally recognized. These are Australopithecus afarensis, A. africanus, A. bahrelghazali, A. anamensis, A. boisei, A. robustus, and A. aethiopicus.
They were bipedal and had an upright posture. Their teeth were more humanlike than apelike, but their brains were small and not very different from those of living apes. They weighed between 36 and 66kgs and were 1.5 metres tall.
Australopithecus also known as the southern ape is believed to have existed some 4 million years ago in the Eastern and Southern Africa. It is known to be the earliest hominid closer to modern man. It is estimated to have weighed between 36-66kgs. He was about 1.5 metres tall and had powerful teeth. This hominid is said to have walked with 2 legs (biped) and walked upright. The picture is of Australopithecus anamensis from the national museums of Kenya.
Homo Habilis
A type of extinct humans regarded as the earliest member of the human genus, Homo. The name Homo habilis means ‘handy man’. They inhabited parts of sub-Saharan Africa about 2-1.5 million years ago. Remains were first discovered in 1959 at Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania; then at Koobi Fora in the Lake Turkana region of northern Kenya and at Sterkfontein in South Africa. They walked upright and were able to make and use crude tools refered to as the Oldowan tools. It is possible that homo habilis lived at the same time with the robust Australopithecines (A. robustus /paranthropus), and perhaps also early Homo ergaster.
Homo ergaster
Homo ergaster (‘working man’) lived throughout eastern and southern Africa between 1.9 to 1.4 million years ago. The equivalent of Homo ergaster outside Africa is known as Homo erectus. The most complete Homo ergaster skeleton is the 1.6 million year old specimen known as the ‘Turkana Boy’, discovered in 1984 at Lake Turkana, Kenya.
Homo ergaster may be distinguished from H. erectus by its thinner skull bones and more straight jawed face; It is estimated that H. ergaster stood at 1.9 m. tall. Remains have been found in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa. H. ergaster has been associated with use of advanced tools known as the Acheulean industry. The Acheulean comprised various tools such as hand-axes and cleavers. Charred animal bones in fossil deposits and traces of camps suggest that the species made creative use of fire.
Homo erectus is best presented by a specimen commonly referred to as the ‘Turkana boy’. This species was found on the western part of Lake Turkana, a place called Nariokotome in Kenya. The movie clip provided shows the whole skeleton of the species obtained from the National Museums of Kenya. The new discovery of Homo erectus by DrManthi of Museums of Kenya
Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens (intelligent or thinking man) refer to a species into which all modern human beings belong. The oldest known fossil remains of Homo sapiens date to between 120,000 and 400,000 years ago years ago. Some sites where fossil remains of Homo sapiens have been found include Eliye Springs near Lake Turkana, Kanjera and Kanam in Kenya, Omo River Valley in Ethiopia and Ngaloba in Tanzania.
Homo sapiens is distinguished from earlier species of Homo by characteristics and habits such as bipedal stance, brain capacity averaging about 1,350 cc, high forehead, small teeth and jaw, defined chin, construction and use of tools. He is said to be the transition between Homo erectus and “you and me”
Homo sapien sapiens, also known as modern human beings had virtually occupied the entire globe by 13,000 years ago. Modern humans generally have more delicate skeletons. Their skulls are more rounded and their brow ridges generally protrude much less. They also have relatively high foreheads and pointed chins. Scholars suggest that Homo sapien sapiens evolved from Homo sapiens primarily in Eastern Africa, and that they had spread to Asia by around 60,000 years ago, and to Europe by 46,000 years ago.
Early human cultural and economic activities
Culture is a peoples way of life. It includes peoples:
Development of Agriculture in Egypt.
Factors that led to the development of Agriculture in Egypt.
Several factors led to the development of early agriculture in Egypt:
There were several effects of early agriculture in Egypt:
Urban centers
5. specialization in other activities like weaving, basketry, pottery and tool making
6. discovery of writing, arithmetic, geometry and use of the calendar. This enabled the Egyptians to predict seasons and measure the farms
7. increase agricultural production supported a new class of people for example the kings, priests and soldiers
EARLY AGRICULTURE IN MESOPOTAMIA
Mesopotamia means the land between two rivers, i.e. Tigris and Euphrates. These rivers were important in the development of agriculture. Mesopotamia is part of the present day Iraq. Food production in Mesopotamia began around 8000 BC and it was introduced by settlers from the Iranian plateau and the Egyptians The Sumerians developed skills and techniques for controlling flood waters
Mesopotamia means the land between two rivers, i.e. Tigris and Euphrates. These rivers were important in the development of agriculture. Mesopotamia is part of the present day Iraq. Food production in Mesopotamia began around 8000 BC and it was introduced by settlers from the Iranian plateau and the Egyptians. The Sumerians developed skills and techniques for controlling flood waters.
Factors that led to the development of agriculture in Mesopotamia
Several factors led to the development of agriculture in Mesopotamia.
Effects of early Agriculture in Mesopotamia
Early agriculture had the following effects:
The Agrarian Revolution
Agrarian Revolution refers to the time when sudden and radical change in agricultural practices took place.
Use of tractors in farming
Describe the Agrarian revolution in Britain and U.S.A.
Agrarian revolution involved changes in:-
Agrarian revolution in Britain
Agrarian Revolution began in Britain then spread to the rest of the world. Before the revolution, agriculture was practiced on small scale using simple tools like sticks, wooden hoes and wooden ploughs. They mainly practiced mono cropping, ie they grew only one type of crop in the same place every year.
Factors that influenced Agrarian evolution in Britain
The agrarian revolution in Britain was caused the following factors
Establishment of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1838 was another factor that led to agrarian revolution in Britain. This society published journals which disseminated new ideas and techniques of farming.
Effects of Agrarian revolution
Effects of Agrarian revolution in Britain include;
An industry
Factors that led to the development of agriculture in USA
Agrarian revolution did not only take place in Britain, but also spread to other areas. An example is agrarian revolution in the USA. The factors that led to the development of agriculture in USA include
land enclosure system in Britain that left many people landless. This made them to move to America where they got involved in agriculture
religious / political differences in Britain and other parts of Europe such as German, France etc forced many Europeans to migrate and settle in America
laborers and craftsmen from Britain migrated to USA in search of better lives
relocation of prisoners who found an opportunity in farming
Other factors that contributed to agrarian revolution in USA included The teaching of agricultural economics, discovery of the preservation methods and government assistance in the form of grants.
It is also important to note that the development of Agriculture in USA existed even before the coming of the Europeans.
The teaching of agricultural economics, i.e. use of agricultural fertilizers and introduction of the spinning wheel.
discovery of the preservation methods
government assistance in the form of grants
Modern Farming
Development
The development of agriculture was gradual. It is important to note that agriculture existed in America even before the coming of Europeans. The indigenous people used to grow crops such as
In the 17th century, European settlers started to establish settlement in North America. This was due to favorable climate in USA. With increased migration to USA, the agrarian revolution started in the 18th century. It was characterized by modern plantations, estate farming, crop joining, and the use of hybrid seeds, animals and farm machinery. Another notable feature of agrarian revolution in USA was the introduction of new technology in farming. In 1863, the homesteads act legalized individual land ownership.
Effects of Agrarian revolution in U.S.A
Agrarian revolution had various effects. Some of these are;
Factory processing agricultural products
The expansion in agricultural production led to increase in trade between the USA and Western Europe
The expansion in agricultural production led to increase in trade between the USA and Western Europe
Trade between USA and Europe
The food situation in Africa and other Third World Countries
The term Third World refers to less developed countries most of which are found in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
These countries have some common characteristics. They;
Third world countries in most cases are unable to feed their populations and often rely on food relief from international organizations.
People receiving relief food
Factors contributing to food shortages in Third World countries
Several factors have contributed to food shortages in Third World countries. These include:
1. High rate of population growth in the Third World compared to the rate of food production.
Family
2. Poor methods of farming:
3. Inadequate funds for agricultural practices
4. Adverse climatic conditions
5.Natural calamities such as draught and floods
Dead animals due to drought
6.Desertification.
7. Over-emphasis on cash crops:
8. Rural-urban migration leading to shortage of labour on the farms
9. Political instability which affects agricultural production
10. Poor infrastructure for example roads and railways
Pot holed road
Food shortage has led to devastating effects in the Third World countries. These include:
Third World countries have taken several steps to alleviate the problem food shortage;
1. Introduction of new methods of farming which have resulted to increased production.
2. More land has been brought under irrigation to counter the inadequate rainfall. Click on play button to view movie on irrigation .
3. More land has been reclaimed hence increasing arable land.
4. Good storage facilities have been built to minimize the loses.
5. Government should formulate better food policies. This enhances utilization of available land.
6. Governments should intervene to stop civil strife by peaceful means. This will ensure that the resources in those countries are used effectively.
7. Mobilization of funds by the government to boost agricultural production some of the crops that can be grown with funding to farmers
8. Farmers should be encouraged to grow drought resistant crops such as sorghum, yams, millet and cassava.
9. Developing countries should improve their transport networks so that farm produce can be transported easily to the market.
10. Establishments of co-operative society which assist the farmers in accessing credit facilities, marketing produce and getting farm inputs.
Steps taken by the Kenyan Government to solve food shortage
Genetically engineered banana
The peoples of Kenya migrated from their original homelands and settled in various parts of Kenya . Use the scroll bar to see peoples’ movement from various places.
People and their movements
The term Bantu refers to a group of people who speak related languages. They make up the largest language group in Africa. Use the scroll bar to see Bantus movement from their origin..
The social political and economic organization of the Ameru in the 19th Century
The Ameru belong the Eastern group of the Bantu. As they migrated, they interacted with various communities. This interaction enabled them to develop a system of government that ensured high standards of morality and stability.There are several sub-tribes of the Ameru.These are; Igembe, Tigania, ImentiMiitine, Igoji, Mwimbi, Muthambi, Chuka, Tharaka. The map provided in the next page shows the current settlement of the Ameru.
Social organization
There are several aspects of the Ameru social organization.
– they had councils which ranged from the children councils to the supreme councils.
– the supreme council was known as NjuriNcheke. This council made the moral code which was followed by all.
Economic Organization
The Ameru engaged in various economic activities. These included
organization of the Abagusii
Political Organization of the Abagusii
The clan formed the basis of their political setup.
Each clan occupied a ridge and was led by a council of Elders. The council of Elders had the following functions:
(i) It solved clan and land disputes
(ii) It maintained law and order
(iii) It disciplined offenders and law breakers
2. The Abagusii had a hereditary clan Chief called Omogambi (plural Abagambi). The Abagambi presided over religious ceremonies.
4. They had age-sets formed after circumcision. These acted as the military wing responsible for the defence of the community.
Economic organization of the Abagusii
They engaged in several economic activities. They;
– cultivated crops like millet and sorghum.
— kept animals like cattle, sheep and goats for meat, milk and skins
– traded with their neighbors, for example the Luo. They exchanged grains, iron tools and soapstone with the Luo for fish.
The Cushites
The Cushitic speakers are said to have originated from the Ethiopian Highlands. It is from here that they moved to their current homelands. In Kenya they arrived in two groups, the Eastern and southern Cushites
Current settlement of the Cushites
The social political and economic organization of the Somali in the 19th century
The Somali are the largest group of Eastern Cushitic speakers in Kenya. They are believed to have originated from the Northern part of present day Somalia along the Gulf of Eden. The Somali of Kenya speak the same language with their kin in Somalia. The map provided in the next page shows their current settlement.
Social Organization
Political Organization of the Somali
6.Due to Islamic influence, the Somali political set up was changed. They adopted the institution of sheikhs and imams as leaders of the community
An Imam
7.The political system was based on the Islamic sharia law
Economic activities of the Somali
The Somali had several economic activities
The social political and economic organization of the Maasai in the 19th century
The Maasai belong to the plain Nilotic speakers. They expanded as far as Northern Tanzania by the end of the second half of the 18th Century. By 19th Century, they had reached the peak of their power and they developed political, social and economic institutions
The Maasai belong to the plain Nilotic speakers. They expanded as far as Northern Tanzania by the end of the second half of the 18th Century. By 19th Century, they had reached the peak of their power and they developed political, social and economic institutions. The map provided shows their current settlement.
Discuss the social, political and economic organization of the Maasai in the 19th Century
Social organization of the maasai
East African coast
Establishment and Impact of Omani rule in the coast.
The Arabs replaced the Portuguese who had ruled the East coast of Africa for about 200 years. The Omani Arabs wanted to control the East African coast for the following reasons;
Law enforcement officers restoring peace during the 2007 post election violence in Kenya
Causes of conflict
There are several causes of conflicts. These include:
(i) Economic causes
This may arise when a number of parties disagree on matters that affect the development of trade, industry and wealth for a example a dispute between employers and employees where the employees seek higher pay.
(ii) Social causes.
This occurs when people in a group or community fail to agree on matters affecting their social life for example a family dispute, land disputes.
(iii) Political causes.
This arises out of political differences for example difference between political parties and boundary disputes between countries.
Methods of resolving conflicts
As we mentioned earlier, conflict resolution refers to ways of settling disputes or disagreements when they occur.
There are various ways through which conflicts are settled. They are discussed here. Click on the above panel for more details on the methods of conflict resolution.
Negotiation:
This refers to discussions between people who are trying to reach an agreement. It involves three important steps. These are;
Fact finding which involves finding the root cause of the dispute
Disussion which involves a give and take situation.This creats a friendly environment to solve the conflict.
Reaching an agreement which involves the parties showing willingness to compromise for the negotiation to succeed.
Arbitration
The process of arbitration involves:-
(i) The sides involved in the conflict should be ready to present their case.
(ii) The arbitrator then asks questions to clarify some aspect after listening to each side.
(iii) Based on the applicable rules, the arbitrator considers the facts and makes a decision to settle the dispute.
Mediation
This involves a situation where a person who is not involved in a dispute tries to help two conflicting groups to reach an agreement. The parties involved must be willing to listen and come up with good ideas that will enable them reach an agreement
Kofi Annan former UN Secretary General who mediated peace after the 2007 post election violence in Kenya
There are several steps towards meditation
(i) The mediator explains the rules.
(ii) The parties involved in the conflict explain in their own words what the problem is.
(iii) The mediator summarizes the facts from submission of the two sides.
(iv) Solutions are suggested by the mediator and the parties are invited to give their opinions on the solution.
(v) Depending on the parties’ reaction the solution may be looked at afresh to get an acceptable solution.
(vi) An acceptable agreement is reached by both parties which is written down. Both parties must be committed to it.
Compromise
This is based on bargaining where the opposing parties take a middle position in the conflict. They accept the conflict between them and the fact that they can co-exist.
Problem Solving
This method attempts to determine the root causes of a conflict and then resolve the basic issues.
This is possible where there is mutual trust among the conflicting parties.
Collaboration
This is where there is willingness by the opposing parties in the conflict to work with the other to resolve differences between them.
THE PROCESS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION
There are several phases involved in the process of resolving conflicts. These are:
(i) Recognizing that a conflict situation exists.
(ii) Diagnosing the conflict. This involves establishing the nature of the conflict and its causes.
(iii) Examining the grievances because most conflicts are caused by a situation where parties have varying information.
(iv) Determine how far the conflict has advanced.
(v) Problem solving or handling grievances.
Relevant information is examined and a range of possible solutions is considered. The ideas are critically considered from the alternatives given.
(vi) Implementing the solution: This should be done with careful planning to avoid any further conflict.
(vii) The follow up action; which involves establishing the degree of effectiveness of the solution.
(viii) Evaluating the solution to determine the reasons behind success or failure.
Initially the Omani Arabs administered the region through Arab families namely:
However the Omani Arabs were not able to control the region due to various reasons
The Oman Arabs were controlling Oman and the East African Coast at the same time. This proved difficult, hence they had to entrust local Arab families to administer the East African Coast. These local Arab families were:
Old Lamu
The Mazrui family took advantage of the long distance of East African Coast and Oman, and claimed autonomy of Mombasa. The rebellion was led by Mohammad Ibn Uthman. The Mazrui family allied with the MijiKenda to revolt against Omani rule. They also forced other Coastal towns to pay homage to them. These were Malindi, Pate and Pemba
Malindi, Pate and Pemba
The Mazrui rebellion was later crashed resulting in the assassination of Ibn Uthman.The Oman Arabs with the help of Abusaidy’s family managed to bring the East Coast of Africa under their control. They moved the capital from Muscat in Oman to Zanzibar in 1840. Seyyid Said became the Sultan of Zanzibar.The capital was consequently moved from Muscat in Oman to Zanzibar in 1840. Seyyid Said became the sultan of Zanzibar.
SeyyidSeyyid
Seyyid Said and the development of plantation agriculture
Now listen to this conversation between Seyyid Said and an Imam in Zanzibar
From the conversation, you have heard that Seyyid Said decided to move his capital to Zanzibar so that he could have better control of the East African coast.
Due to the fertile soils and the adequate rainfall favorable for large scale farming, he established plantation agriculture
He also introduced growing of crops using plantation. The crops were cloves, coconuts, maize, millet, rice, beans, sim sim and sorghum. Mangoes, citrus fruits and cashew nuts were also grown
Since plantation agriculture depended on intensive labour, use of slaves became necessary. Increase in internal demand for labour due to intensive agriculture made importation of slaves necessary thus leading to slave trade.
He also encouraged settlers from Oman to come and acquire land in Zanzibar for crop growing.
Effects of Omani Rule
The Oman rule affected the people of East Africa in the following ways:
Slave trade
3. Increased warfare as a result of slave raids
4. Decline of traditional industries e.g. pottery, weaving, etc
5.Introduction of new crops e.g. cloves, rice, spices, sugarcane, mangoes
6.Introduction of new architectural designs e.g. mosques and other buildings
7. It led to the opening of East African Coast to the outside world. This improved trade both internally and internationally
8. It led to growth of coastal towns e.g. Mombasa, Malindi, Zanzibar and Lamu
9. Introduction of new religion (Islamic) and Swahili culture
Islamic men’s cloth
We have learnt that Kenya has different communities living in it. It is important for these communities to live together in harmony. In this session, we are going to look at how people can live together in peace.
National integration
As you tackle National integration, it is important that you know clearly some of the terms that are at times confusing. They have been defined as follows:
A Nation is a large community of people usually sharing a common
a) history
b) culture
c) language
d) one government
e) one territory
f) common experiences
The concept of nation and ethnic are similar, the only difference is that a nation has a political aspect while an ethnic group refers to social cultural identity. In Kenya, there are many ethnic groups, for example
a) Maasai
b) Akamba
c) Oromo
d) Pokot
e) Kuria
f) Taita
g) Giriama
State: An institution formed by people occupying a particular geographical territory for common goal and under one government
Nation state: this is a term loosely applied to all modern states (countries) but mostly to states where population is made up of one nation under one government
Government: the machinery in which the state operates. It comprises parliament, civil service and the courts
Kenya gaining independence
Meaning of National Integration :
National integration is the process of bringing together people with different customs, values, culture language etc to make a nation.
National integration is important to our nation in the following ways:
Factors that promote national integration
There are many factors that promote national integration. These include:
a) Black – symbolizes the color of the people
b) Red – symbolizes the blood shed during the struggle for independence
c) White – symbolizes peace
d) Green – symbolizes the fertility of the land
The flag also has a shield and two spears. These are symbols of defense of life, truth, justice, freedom and peace.
iii) Coat of arms: Coat of arms is found in different items and places to represent the government of Kenya. It is found in currency, government buildings, official government letters, official presidential vehicle and Kenyan Embassies in foreign countries.
The arms of the government
The presidency unifies Kenyans. The president is the spokes person and international representative of all Kenyans
The mass media is important in that it ensures that information is disseminated to all at the same time. It enables Kenyans from all parts of the country to contribute to national debates before decisions of national importance are made.
Factors that hinder National Integration
National integration can be hindered by the following factors
Conflict Resolution
When people live together, disagreements are inevitable. These disagreements are referred to as conflicts. They could be as a result of self interest or differing ideas. It is important that a way is sought to restore peace hence conflict resolution. This is where disputes are settled and peace is restored.
Meaning of conflict
Conflict refers to a situation where people or groups are involved in disagreement. This could be as a result of self-interest or differing ideas.
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