History of Zambia - Early History

Early History

The original inhabitants of all of modern day Zambia were the Khoisans. They were bushman, and hunters and gatherers who lived a nomadic life, with stone age technology. Mainly they gathered fruits and nuts, but they also hunted antelope and other animals.

The Khoisans were the only inhabitants of most of Zambia until the 4th century, when Bantu started to migrate from the north. They had far more developed technology - they were farmers and had iron and copper tools and weapons, as well as knowledge about pottery They were sedentary and lived in small self-sufficient villages with a few houses, growing sorghum and beans, as well as keeping cattle and goats.

Since the early farmers practised slash and burn agriculture, they had to constantly move further south when the soil was exhausted. The indigenous khoisans were either assimilated into the new culture or pushed aside into areas not suitable for agriculture.

With the introduction of agriculture the population grew, and more and more land became cultivated. By the 11th and 12th centuries a more advanced society was beginning to emerge. Even though most villages still were self-sufficient, long distance trade was developing. Copper mining was intensified, and copper crosses were probably used as a currency. Ivory carvings and cotton textiles were other export commodities. One of the most famous archaeological sites for this period is Ing-ombe Ilede. The increase in trade resulted in larger political units and more complex social structures.