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Shaka and Zulu

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The extreme pressure for the Zulu to find new land because of drought caused an expansion in territory and led to a series of wars for control which was dubbed Mfecane. The Mfecane was a period of warfare between different ethnic groups which led to many changes in the political structure of Southern Africa. This series of wars called the Mfecane was revolutionary during 1817-1828 (www.bbc.co.uk) and it was mainly due to the abolition of the Trans – Atlantic slave trade, coupled with the increase in population, also with the loss of natural resources, and the economic restructuring moving from slaves being the main economic trade to the search for a new method resulted in a major change in southern Africa. During the Mfecane many people …show more content…

New political structure's came about from the new kingdom's that were being formed. Due to the affects of the Zulu's attack's there was less land to be had and this led to states becoming more attached to where they eventually ended up. The Zulu nation was at the center of the Mfecane because they were the nation which started the whole epidemic.

Shaka was the center of the Zulu nation and was the leader of the Zulu expansion which could never have happened without his influence and the way he constructed his military force. "Great nation of Zulu, you have shown courage against a superior enemy. The nations that spoke of you with contempt are chilled by your songs. Kings and princes shiver in their little thrones. Enemies flee to hide in the mountain caves." (http://www.bbc.co.uk) This is an excerpt from Shaka which show's the fear that he was able to envoke to his enemies through his militarian style. At this particular moment Shaka was showing how proud he was of his army after their victorious battle against Ndwandwe. The Zulu's prominence was growing throughout Africa and they knew how popular their fight was against Ndwandwe. "Shaka created a standing army of 40,000 warriors, made up of regiments separated out into age groups." (http://www.bbc.co.uk) Shaka's system was basically having the soldier's go into communities to plunder for cattle and grain, under highly organized raids

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