how did cape town originate as a settlement

Full Answer

What made Cape Town the first European colony in South Africa?

What turned the original outpost into the first European colony in South Africa was the Company’s decision to let sailors and soldiers in its service settle at the Cape and start their own farms.

Why did the Dutch establish an outpost at Cape Town?

In 1651 accordingly, the directors of the Dutch East India Company, the Seventeen, decided to establish an outpost at the Cape, where their ships could put in for water and supplies and the sick could be treated.

What is the oldest city in the Western Cape?

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town, as the oldest urban area in the Western Cape, it was developed by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a supply station for Dutch ships sailing to East Africa, India, and the Far East.

What happened to Cape Town in the 1800s?

An 1800s map of Cape Town. Under the terms of a peace agreement between Britain and France, the Cape was returned to the Dutch in 1802. Three years later, however, the war resumed and the British returned their garrison to the Cape after defeating Dutch forces at the Battle of Blaauwberg (1806).

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What is the history of Cape Town?

History of Cape Town. Human communities had lived in the Cape Peninsula and Western Cape long before the beginning of the Christian era, surviving by hunting, fishing and gathering edible plants and roots. They were the ancestors of the Khoisan peoples of modern times - the Bushmen (San) and the Hottentot (Khoikhoi).

Where was the Cape Flats?

Only in the neighbourhood of Table Bay and along the eastern flank of the mountains as far as False Bay were there large areas of relatively level lowland favourable to early settlement. The Cape Flats, which links the Peninsula to the mainland of Africa, was then covered by sand dunes and dune vegetation.

Why was the peninsula of Tormentosa named after Vasco da Gama?

Vasco Da Gama. It is widely believed that it was Dias who named the peninsula Cabo Tormentosa (Cape of Storms). This name was later changed to Cabo da Boa Esperanca (Cape of Good Hope) to signify that the rounding of the Cape brought hope that a sea route to the East was possible.

What did the Hottentot trade with?

Before the Dutch came to the Cape, the Hottentot conducted trade with their Bantu-speaking neighbours in cattle and dagga (marijuana) and, to a lesser extent, iron and copper.

How many trees did Groot Constantia plant?

He turned this vast region into rich farmland, planted some eight thousand trees and designed and built the stateliest of the Cape's historic mansions, Groot Constantia (named after his wife, Constance) in 1685, where he lived until his death in 1712.

How far is Cape Peninsula from Table Bay?

From Table Bay the Cape Peninsula extends southward, a long narrow mass of highlands varying in width from three to seven miles, until it tapers to the high narrow promontory of Cape Point, nearly 48 kilometres away.

What were the Bushmen?

The Bushmen were hunter-gatherers who lived in small, loosely knit groups of about 20 persons. They were highly mobile on account of their dependence on game, and for the same reason widely dispersed territorially. The Hottentot, in comparison, were mainly herders along the Orange River, the boundary river between South Africa and Namibia, and the coastal belt stretching from Namibia around Cape Point to the Eastern Cape. Both groups were thought to have migrated southward, ahead of the Bantu-speaking peoples whose ancestral home lay well in the north.

Where was Cape Town first settled?

The first settlement of Cape Town was situated between Table Mountain and Table Bay. It was bounded on the northwest by the ridges known as Lion’s Head and Lion’s Rump (later called Signal Hill), on the north by Table Bay, on the south by Devil’s Peak, and on the east by marshlands and the sandy Cape Flats beyond.

Where did Cape Town originate?

The city of Cape Town had its origin in 1652, when the Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station for its ships on the shores of Table Bay. The location was magnificent, on well-watered, fertile soil, beneath the precipitous walls of Table Mountain. The indigenous inhabitants provided cattle but not labour, and the company imported slaves, mainly from East Africa, Madagascar, and the Bay of Bengal area. The slaves brought with them something of their culture and—especially in the case of the Muslims from the East Indies—their religion. Mixed-race unions took place, but strong racial and ethnic characteristics remained. In 1781 the French established a garrison to help the Dutch defend the city against British attack, and the French presence influenced local architecture and culture. British occupation in the 19th century brought new parliamentary and judicial concepts and freedom for the slaves. Cape Town was the gateway to Europe’s penetration of the South African interior, and close ties with continental Europe were maintained.

What shaped the direction of Cape Town's growth?

The constraints of mountain, sea, and sand shaped the direction of Cape Town’s growth, and the pattern was followed in subsequent road and rail construction. A railway line reached Wynberg in 1864 and Muizenberg in 1883, and another line ran eastward from Cape Town across the Flats to the interior.

What is the climate of Cape Town?

Climate. The climate of Cape Town is Mediterranean in type; it is locally modified by the mass of Table Mountain and by the cold Benguela Current of the South Atlantic Ocean. The average high temperature is 70° F (21° C), in January and February, and the average low is 55° F (13° C), in July, but temperatures are cooler on ...

How big is Cape Town?

The city covers an area of 116 square miles (300 square kilometres). Pop. (2005 est.) urban agglom., 3,103,000.

Why is Cape Town called the mother city of South Africa?

Because it was the site of the first European settlement in South Africa, Cape Town is known as the country’s “mother city.”. Cape Town. Cape Town has a beautiful setting: parts of the city and its suburbs wind about the steep slopes of Table Mountain (3,563 feet [1,086 metres] high) and neighbouring peaks and rim the shores of Table Bay;

What was the name of the road that led from the shore inland to the Dutch East India Company’s produce garden?

The narrow streets of the early settlement ran parallel to the shore. The road that led from the shore inland to the Dutch East India Company’s produce garden became the main thoroughfare. Originally called the Heerengracht, for the canal in Amsterdam of that name, it was renamed Adderley Street in 1850.

When was Cape Town founded?

Richard Cavendish charts the founding of Cape Town, on April 7th, 1652.

Where did the first slaves come from?

In 1658 the first slaves were imported, from the East Indies and Central Africa, and when van Riebeek left for India in 1662 the little settlement had a fort, a hospital, a jetty, workshops and a granary, as well as houses.

What was the name of the Dutch ship that brought cattle to Table Bay?

Even so, European ships began putting in to Table Bay for fresh water and meat until in 1647 a Dutch ship, the Haarlem , was wrecked in the bay.

Why did the survivors return to Holland?

The survivors returned to Holland to report that the place was fertile and suitable for growing vegetables and fruit, against scurvy, while the natives were not cannibals as reported, but friendly and, if kindly treated, could be converted to Christianity and used as servants.

When did Jan van Riebeek reach Table Bay?

Jan van Riebeek reached Table Bay on April 6th, the following year with an expedition some ninety-strong in three ships and went ashore the next day to select a place for a fort. Today’s Grand Parade in the centre of Cape Town is on the site. Early map of Cape Town.

When did the British take over Cape Town?

Britain captured Cape Town in 1795, but the Cape was returned to the Dutch by treaty in 1803. British forces occupied the Cape again in 1806 following the Battle of Blaauwberg. In the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, Cape Town was permanently ceded to the United Kingdom.

Why is Cape Town so popular?

This is due to its mild climate, natural setting, and well-developed infrastructure. The city has several well-known natural features that attract tourists, most notably Table Mountain, which forms a large part of the Table Mountain National Park and is the back end of the City Bowl. Reaching the top of the mountain can be achieved either by hiking up, or by taking the Table Mountain Cableway. Cape Point is recognised as the dramatic headland at the end of the Cape Peninsula. Many tourists also drive along Chapman's Peak Drive, a narrow road that links Noordhoek with Hout Bay, for the views of the Atlantic Ocean and nearby mountains. It is possible to either drive or hike up Signal Hill for closer views of the City Bowl and Table Mountain.

What is the name of the mountain in Cape Town?

Cape Town is located at latitude 33.55° S (approximately the same as Sydney and Buenos Aires and equivalent to Casablanca and Los Angeles in the northern hemisphere) and longitude 18.25° E. Table Mountain , with its near vertical cliffs and flat-topped summit over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high, and with Devil's Peak and Lion's Head on either side, together form a dramatic mountainous backdrop enclosing the central area of Cape Town, the so-called City Bowl. A thin strip of cloud, known colloquially as the "tablecloth", sometimes forms on top of the mountain. To the immediate south, the Cape Peninsula is a scenic mountainous spine jutting 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwards into the Atlantic Ocean and terminating at Cape Point. There are over 70 peaks above 300 m (980 ft) within Cape Town's official city limits. Many of the city's suburbs lie on the large plain called the Cape Flats, which extends over 50 kilometres (30 mi) to the east and joins the peninsula to the mainland. The Cape Town region is characterised by an extensive coastline, rugged mountain ranges, coastal plains, inland valleys and semi-desert fringes.

How many people ride the Cape Town bike tour?

It sees over 35,000 cyclists tackling a 109 km (68 mi) route around Cape Town. The Absa Cape Epic is the largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world.

What year did the protests against Bantu Education take place?

School students from Langa, Gugulethu and Nyanga in Cape Town reacted to the news of protests against Bantu Education in Soweto in June 1976 and organised gatherings and marches, which were met with resistance from the police.

How many wards are there in Cape Town?

Cape Town is governed by a 231-member city council elected in a system of mixed-member proportional representation. The city is divided into 116 wards, each of which elects a councillor by first-past-the-post voting. The remaining 115 councillors are elected from party lists so that the total number of councillors for each party is proportional to the number of votes received by that party.

What was the name of the colony that was unified by the British in 1910?

South African period. In 1910, Britain established the Union of South Africa, which unified the Cape Colony with the two defeated Boer Republics and the British colony of Natal. Cape Town became the legislative capital of the Union, and later of the Republic of South Africa .

Who colonized Cape Town?

Cape Town was colonised by the Dutch East India Company, with the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck, in 1652, who called the harbour (the Dutch used the bay to replenish their fleet of ships with food and water) Table Bay.

How did Cape Town get its name?

The story of how Cape Town got its name is a special one, that starts way back in the annals of time: Once upon a time a man known as Bart to his friends, but Bartolomeu to his employers, rounded a piece of land in the shape of a finger.

What is the name of the peninsula that extends beyond Cape Town?

But the Cape of Storms , as Dias named the peninsula, is the name given to the cape which extends beyond Cape Town, not the city itself. Cape Town lies in a natural bowl formed by the famous flat-topped mountain ( Table Mountain) on the one side, and the sea (harbour) on the other. Cape Town has had, and still has, many names.

What is the number one city in Africa for business tourism?

The Mother City, tavern of the seas, or Cape Town, is the number one city in Africa for business tourism.

Who introduced the Cape of Good Hope to Europe?

Back on the African continent, things had only just started to get exciting…. Bartolomeu Dias (or Diaz), who called the Cape peninsula the Cape of Good Hope, introduced the region to Europe as a feasible route to India around the storm-laden southern tip of Africa.

What is the name of the place where the San lived?

The San, Cape Town’s original people, who lived a largely nomadic life along the country’s coastline leaving various fish middens in caves and along the shore for us to cobble together a story about them, called the space within the bowl Camissa, or place of sweet water.

Who were the first traders in the Cape of Good Hope?

Although the Portuguese first reached the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, the first serious traders were the Dutch, or as they came to be known, the Boers, or Afrikaners. Boer means farmer, the occupation of most of the settlers. The Fort de Goede Hope was built in 1652 when merchant Jan Van Riebeeck created the first settlement.

Why did the Khoikhoi want to barter with the natives?

The intention of the company was that the settlers would grow enough food to supply passing ships, so they hoped to barter with the natives and avoid fighting with them. However, because the Khoikhoi did not want to sell enough cattle for the settlement to meet its needs, there began to be conflicts.

Why was Cape Town founded?

The outpost was intended to supply VOC ships on their way to Asia with fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and to enable sailors wearied by the sea to recuperate. What influenced the location of the town in the Table Bay area was the availability of fresh water which was difficult to find in other areas.

What was the Dutch settlement?

The Dutch Settlement. The region of the Western Cape which includes the Table Bay area (where the modern city of Cape Town is located) was inhabited by Khoikhoi pastoralists who used it seasonally as pastures for their cattle. When European ships landed on the shores of Table Bay they came into contact with Khoikhoi.

Why did the VOC give freehold lands to the Liesbeeck Valley?

Due to the growing need for supplies, in 1657 the VOC released some employees from their contracts and granted them freehold lands along the Liesbeeck Valley for them to start farming. The ‘free burgers’ were provided with seeds, tools and loans to start farming. They were ordered to sell their produce to the company and forbidden to trade with the Khoikhoi. Thus, the settlement steadily spread from shores of Table Bay to other parts of the Cape.

Where did the Khoikhoi move?

In the summer months the Khoikhoi moved around between the areas of Table Bay, Swartland and Saldanha Bay in search of fresh grazing pastures with their cattle herds. It was the gradual dispossession of local Khoikhoi pastoralists by early Dutch settlers that opened up the area for European settlement.

What was the largest trade in Europe in 1620?

By 1620, the VOC was the largest corporation in Europe trading in cotton and silk from India and China. In the 1600s both the VOC and East India Company companies were increasingly using the Cape as a halfway stop in their maritime trade and occasionally set up tents along the shore to trade with the Khoikhoi.

What was the area around Table Bay and Robben Island used for?

During the same period the area around Table Bay and Robben Island were increasingly used by the Dutch and British. For instance in 1611, Dutch sailors were shipwrecked on Robben Island. In 1615 ten British prisoners were also dumped on Robben Island and in 1648 the Dutch dumped mutineers on the shores of Table Bay.

Why was the Cape of Good Hope named after the king?

The name expressed the king’s optimism that a sea trade route to India could be opened up via the Cape. In 1497 Vasco da Gama and later Ferdinard Magellan also sailed round the Cape all the way to India.

Who was the new governor of Cape Town in 1679?

1679. The new Governor, Simon van der Stel arrives in Cape Town. On his arrival at the Cape he finds himself in charge of a settlement that is still, simply a trading station of the Dutch East India Company. A mere commercial outpost that is sparsely populated.

What did the Dutch do on his return to Table Bay?

On his return to Table Bay he acted as interpreter and intermediary between the Khoi and visiting English crews, to obtain cattle and sheep by barter. He continued in this role for the Dutch after the arrival of Van Riebeeck, considerably increasing his own livestock holdings in the process.

What is the Dutch town of Batavia?

The small town, which Van Riebeeck and his successors established at the Cape, reproduced some of the typical features of Amsterdam. To the Dutch the natural setting of a town was at the water’s edge. When they occupied the Archipelago, they insisted, as far as circumstances permitted, on a similar environment for their lives in the East. Batavia, with its canals and bridges connecting houses and stabling, was modelled on the ground plan of the Netherlands city. In the seventeenth century the sea encroached upon the land to a far greater extent than at present, and the waterfront ran across the lower end of Strand Street. Van Riebeeck intended the heart of his little settlement to lie facing the waterfront, on the bank of a freshwater stream, which flowed from the mountain down the Platteklip Gorge. Here he build his fort and the canalized the lower portion of the freshriver, to fill the moat. Behind and at right angles to the shoreline was the main thoroughfare, named, after its Amsterdam counterpart, the Heerengracht. It was bordered by masonry water canals, fed by a stream from Table Mountain. In time oaks were planted and plank bridges gave access to the gardens of cottages. It resembled the atmosphere of a smaller waterfronted Dutch town. Open canals were constructed down several of the streets, serving as a watersource for irrigations, and despite the diminished flow in summer, as a means of combating fires. The impact of the Dutch presence on the natural flaura and fauna of the Peninsula was not confined to pasture lands and hedges. The natural wildlife was being steadily hunted out. This was encouraged by the premium that the Company paid for the shooting of lions and leopards. Robben Island was populated by sheep, which the Company hoped would breed in isolation from Khoi rivals, while seals on the coastline were hunted for their oil and flesh. Trees in the Table Bay area were swiftly falling to the axe. Brick houses soon began to cluster around the fort, whilst a jetty ran out into the sea. In close proximity was Van Riebeeck’s hospital, later used as a timber store. Sidewalks at right angles to the main street led to the house of Hendrik Boom, the chief gardener, and to various private gardens. The Company’s main vegetable and fruit garden was laid out on the lower slope of the Mountain. Much of it was enclosed. Wheat and barley were sown before the settlement was three months old. With the construction of thatched cottages the wilderness of the sand dunes gave way to a pleasant domesticated scene. Countless waterfowl inhabitated the Lion’s Head area and around the green vlei (Greenpoint). The clusters of melkbos provided very little shelter against the ferocity of the rain bearing Northwesterly wind in Winter and the dry South Easter in Summer.

Why was Van Riebeeck taken hostage?

During the growing hostilities between the Dutch and the Khoi in 1658 and 1659, he was taken hostage by Van Riebeeck, in an attempt to force the Khoi to return some escaped slaves, and is imprisoned on Robben Island. He escaped but died an impoverished man several years later.

What tribes lived in the Bergriver?

Living a little distance inland were two other richer and more powerful tribes, the Goringhaikuas, or Kaapmans (Capemen), who numbered about six hundred men, and the Gorachouquas, or Koras, whose strength was about two-thirds of that of the Kaapmans. In time the burgher explorations discovered the existence of other tribes. The most powerful clan was the Cochoqua, or Saldanha men, who lived along the Bergriver towards Malmesbury and Saldanha Bay. The Khoikhoi were of larger physique than the San, with a tawny pigmentation and slight of build. Their houses were crude semi-circular huts of stakes and mats. They used copper and iron. Their weapons consisted of arrows and spears tipped with metal. They were described as mild mannered and friendly.

How many slaves were there in 1657?

1657 & 1658 – The first 150 slaves land at the Cape. A school is established for the male and female slaves. To encourage the slaves to attend, they each received a small glass of brandy and two inches of tobacco, after school. (The beginning of the ‘Dop’ system).

What did the Dutch do to the French refugees?

The Dutch recognising the value of the refugees, encouraged the French families to seek new homes in Dutch settlements.

Peripheries of Cape town

In the context of Cape Town, citizens organize and occupy vacant lands, underutilized buildings to meet housing needs. The homegrown settlements in Cape Town are often located on the periphery and are known as the Cape Flats. The Cape flats is a wide, low-lying area to the southeast of Cape Town’s center.

Construction

To form a new homegrown settlement, people who require housing, come together around this need and organize themselves. On finding a vacant piece of land, they plan to go and build on a particular day. Once everybody settles, a self-appointed group who are familiar with the layout of the land, negotiate and divide this land.

Resilience

Natural disasters in South Africa happen almost every year, and the common ones in Cape town are floods and drought. Vulnerability to flooding is exasperated for homegrown settlements that are located in flood-prone, poorly drained areas such as the Cape Flats.

Overview

Geography and the natural environment

Communities and the built environment

Government

Demographics

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History

Culture