I’ve been an avid reader of this forum for a very long time and I’ve finally decided to try my hand at writing a timeline of my own.
Being mostly interested in ancient history and anthropology - specifically the bronze/iron ages and the development of complex societies, one of my favourite timelines must be "Land of Red and Gold". LoRaG has inspired me to develop a timeline following a similar concept, but using Southern Africa as the birthplace of an "alternative cradle".
Now, the area has already been discussed in a few threads - However, none of these threads have progressed beyond discussion… So I think I’ll be giving it a shot!
The general idea is this:
- The POD is around 10.000 BC, when a group of “Khoisan” people in the Kalahari develop agriculture thank to the Morama Bean, a legume with a tuberous root that even in its current undomesticated form is extremely nutrient and resistant to the dry environment of the South African desert.
- Agriculture would spreads along the coast and along the Orange into the high Velt, followed by the domestication of the Quagga - an extinct species of Zebra that existed until the 19th century and is reported to have been more tameable. This animal could be used as a pack animal, transport and as a guard animal, defending against hyenas and feral dogs.
- Complex states emerge along the Orange River and the Western coast, eventually conquering the fertile east. At its Zenith, a large bronze age Empire occupies most of current South Africa.
- An equivalent to the Bronze Age collapse occurs when the Bantu expand into these new lands, bringing Iron, new crops and new technology. in this TL, however, rather than exterminate the *Khoisan groups and push them in less desireable lands, they integrate in their advanced states, forming a Bantu aristocracy and beginning the Classical Age of this *South African Empire.
- The Empire continues its growth and comes in contact with the Malagasy Austronesian, widening their knowledge of the world.
- The Portoguese arrive and everything... explodes, I guess.
Over the next few weeks I'll be researching material for this timeline! Let me know if you find it interesting and if you have any ideas - discussion and feedback are very welcome. This first post also serves as a sort of plausibility check, so let me know if you find this a bit too outlandish.
If you're interested in reading previous discussions/tentative timelines regarding the topic:
https://alternatehistory.com/forum/...ion-arising-in-south-africa-look-like.380700/
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/a-“khoisan”-civilization-in-south-africa.467793/
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...tion-civilization-on-the-namib-fringe.414742/
Being mostly interested in ancient history and anthropology - specifically the bronze/iron ages and the development of complex societies, one of my favourite timelines must be "Land of Red and Gold". LoRaG has inspired me to develop a timeline following a similar concept, but using Southern Africa as the birthplace of an "alternative cradle".
Now, the area has already been discussed in a few threads - However, none of these threads have progressed beyond discussion… So I think I’ll be giving it a shot!
The general idea is this:
- The POD is around 10.000 BC, when a group of “Khoisan” people in the Kalahari develop agriculture thank to the Morama Bean, a legume with a tuberous root that even in its current undomesticated form is extremely nutrient and resistant to the dry environment of the South African desert.
- Agriculture would spreads along the coast and along the Orange into the high Velt, followed by the domestication of the Quagga - an extinct species of Zebra that existed until the 19th century and is reported to have been more tameable. This animal could be used as a pack animal, transport and as a guard animal, defending against hyenas and feral dogs.
- Complex states emerge along the Orange River and the Western coast, eventually conquering the fertile east. At its Zenith, a large bronze age Empire occupies most of current South Africa.
- An equivalent to the Bronze Age collapse occurs when the Bantu expand into these new lands, bringing Iron, new crops and new technology. in this TL, however, rather than exterminate the *Khoisan groups and push them in less desireable lands, they integrate in their advanced states, forming a Bantu aristocracy and beginning the Classical Age of this *South African Empire.
- The Empire continues its growth and comes in contact with the Malagasy Austronesian, widening their knowledge of the world.
- The Portoguese arrive and everything... explodes, I guess.
Over the next few weeks I'll be researching material for this timeline! Let me know if you find it interesting and if you have any ideas - discussion and feedback are very welcome. This first post also serves as a sort of plausibility check, so let me know if you find this a bit too outlandish.
If you're interested in reading previous discussions/tentative timelines regarding the topic:
South Africa: The Other Cradle of Civilization
South Africa has a very similar climate to Europe, in that it is temperate. That is partially the reason why the Dutch/English had such an easy time colonizing it. So, going off of this, suppose a crop similar to wheat and/or rice develops in South Africa. What happens next? Would this be...
www.alternatehistory.com
https://alternatehistory.com/forum/...ion-arising-in-south-africa-look-like.380700/
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/a-“khoisan”-civilization-in-south-africa.467793/
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...tion-civilization-on-the-namib-fringe.414742/