On the northern Highveld, agglomerated towns like Molokwane, Marothodi, and Kaditshwene represented the late 18th-century capitals of Kwena, Tlokwa, and Hurutshe states. www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-town... - ThreadSky

rhaplord.bsky.social • 3 days ago

On the northern Highveld, agglomerated towns like Molokwane, Marothodi, and Kaditshwene represented the late 18th-century capitals of Kwena, Tlokwa, and Hurutshe states.
https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-towns-on-the-highveld-of-south

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rhaplord.bsky.social•3 days ago

The largest of these is Molokwane, covering an estimated 5km2. John Campbell, who visited Kaditshwene (Kurreechane) in 1820, reported a population of 16,000 to 20,000, apparently more than that of Cape Town at the time.
https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-towns-on-the-highveld-of-south

rhaplord.bsky.social•3 days ago

A similarly sized capital was Pitsane of the Baralong, located further north in Botswana, it was said to have about 20,0000 inhabitants according to Robert Moffat.
https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-towns-on-the-highveld-of-south

rhaplord.bsky.social•3 days ago

The layouts of these settlements demonstrated different attitudes toward the control of space and resources. Molokwane’s and Marothodi’s layouts emphasized the central location of the kraal, while the same was segregated in Kaditshwene
https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-towns-on-the-highveld-of-south

rhaplord.bsky.social•3 days ago

Marothodi featured evidence of significant metalworking of copper and iron, some of which was likely exported to Molokwane, which yielded finds of worked metal but no evidence of metalworking.
https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-towns-on-the-highveld-of-south

rhaplord.bsky.social•3 days ago

The capitals contained wards administered by appointed headmen, these wards were comprised of several dwellings, a cattle pen, and a court (kgotla); the primary, formal forum where judicial, political, and administrative affairs were debated.
https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-towns-on-the-highveld-of-south

rhaplord.bsky.social•3 days ago

These features of Tswana society, which are first mentioned in the early 19th century accounts by various visitors to the region, were better described in early 20th century accounts of Tswana communities in the region.
https://www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/stone-towns-on-the-highveld-of-south

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