POPULATION &SETTLEMENT
|
I find this website on Kenyan settlement to be very interesting as well as rich in history.
This website gives an abundant amount of data on the history and population of Kenya. This includes ethnicities, religions, male to female ratios, and percentages of each age group during a certain time period.
|
Over 2 million years ago some of our ancient ancestors, Homo erectus and Homo habilis walked the African land. Their skulls and other bone fragments have been found as proof. Approximately 2000 years ago, the Khoisan-speakers are the first modern people known to inhabit East Africa. Cushitic- speaking people journeyed from Northern Africa, Bantu from Central Africa, and Nilotic from Sudan. These people originated from Somalia, Ethiopia, and North-East Africa. The Cushitic was known as nomadic pastoralists who had herds of large cattle, sheep, goats, and camels. From these main groups rose 42 different tribes in Kenya, all culturally diverse and most bilingual, speaking English and Swahili. During the development of Kenya, the people followed two distinct paths, they lived in the coastal regions thriving through trade and cash crops or the tribal groups stayed inland and remained roaming the vast desert lands. In the 15th century, the Portuguese and Arabs attempted to settle in coastal regions of Kenya but were later driven off by the Swahili and Omani Arab peoples. During the Portuguese and Arabs short settlement on the coast, they began to trade ivory, rhino horns, tortoise shells, and even slaves making them a huge trademark in the Indian Ocean. The Arabs brought with them their Islamic religion, many adapted to the customs in hope they were not sold as slaves. Along with Arab traders, Nilotic and Bantu peoples began to colonize in Kenya during the first millennium A.D. Because trade along the coast began to blossom, towns began to cultivate, these include Mombasa, Lamu and Pate, which are all crucial trading centers. The Portuguese constructed Fort Jesus in Mombasa in 1593, to use as a center for slave trafficking. Slave trafficking led to the Swahili and Omani demanding the Portuguese leave the African coast in the late 1600's. As wealth and power grew, the Omanis began supplying the British and Americans with goods for their plantations, this also included shipping millions of slaves across the Atlantic Ocean to the U.S. In 1902 British settlers began to populate Kenya. The Ugandan railroad, connecting Lake Victoria to Mombasa, was established making it possible to travel more frequently and many began to flourish to the unknown land. Many came to the virgin land from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and South Africa in hope to find fortune and hunt the extravagantly wild animals such as elephants and zebras. “Live to hunt and hunt to live” became a popular quote to live by in the newly settled African country. The Garden of Eden, as it was known as, was undeveloped and lacking agriculture and an internal market. Land was sold very cheap and settlers began constructing farms to live off of. They began their new lives as pioneers. At the start of the 20th century, many European countries began competing for land along the African coast. By 1918, most of Southern Kenya was now owned by the British. The settlers had embezzled the tribal lands forcing them to live on farms or in big cities. By the 1920's Kenya became a colony and by the 50's more than 80,000 white settlers now lived there. And a result, British rule came to power in Kenya. Europeans were able to become powerful because of one-sided infectious diseases. As stated in the Guns, Germs, and Steel, most infectious diseases came from the domesticated pigs, chickens, and cattle, which originated from Eurasia. Therefore Eurasians ended up bearing the diseases. This relates to the Guns, Germs, and Steel theory because these different elements shape the environment. It also relates to the Guns, germs, and Steel because the British settlers began learning to store food. This meant they had an abundance of crops and animals that they could live off of and feed many people for a certain amount of time. For example, political leaders, merchants, or scribes. That was the first step in answering Yali's question about,“Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo [i.e., steel tools and other products of civilization] and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?” The geography of Kenya contains four main land types and climate zones. These climate zones are key for the people of Kenya to live off of. The central highlands and rift valleys contain very fertile soil from immense rainfall; this is where most of the tea is grown. Most of Western Kenya is wet and hot all of the year. Northern and Eastern Kenya are hot and dry, seeing little rainfall each year. The coastal belt is hot and humid but is cooled by the ocean breeze. Here is where you will find fruit, nuts, and cotton, sustainable cash crops. This country flourished with wild animals, cattle, and cash crops such as coffee, tea, and cotton. Natural resources such as gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, and garnets are found in Kenya. Environmental factors are a key part in the settlement and growth of Kenya. If they do not receive the right amount of rainfall, certain crops cannot be grown. The affects the trade market and well as survival. Without the right necessities, people will move to find the needed resources. |
Resources found in Kenya:
This map shows the vegetation,resources, and cash crops in Kenya. The Savanna was the more highly populated area regarding crops according to the map. The East coast of Kenya also borders the Indian Ocean which will become very profitable for trade among other countries and continents. University of Texas Libraries. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/kenya.html Ethnic Groups in Kenya:
This map shows the many ethnic groups in Kenya. As shown, Kenya is very diverse in ethnicities because they welcome refugees from other tarnished countries. From looking at the map, Somali and Kalenjin seem to be the top two predominate ethnicities in Kenya Volunteer in Kenya | Village Volunteers. (2003, January 1). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.villagevolunteers.org/volunteer-abroad/destinations/kenya/ Map of Kenya:
This map shows the different geographical regions of Kenya as well as the major cities. Nairobi is the National capital of Kenya. Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia to the North, Tanzania to the South, Somalia to the East, and Uganda and Sudan to the West/ North West. Physical Map of Kenya. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.mapsofworld.com/physical-map/kenya-physical-map.html |
Kenyan Population 2000-2012:
In 2011 roughly 42% of Kenya's population was from age birth-14 years old, 55% ranged from age 15-64, and only 2% of the Kenyan population was over 65 years old.
Kenya Population. (2014, January 1). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.indexmundi.com/kenya/population.html
In 2011 roughly 42% of Kenya's population was from age birth-14 years old, 55% ranged from age 15-64, and only 2% of the Kenyan population was over 65 years old.
Kenya Population. (2014, January 1). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.indexmundi.com/kenya/population.html
The population pyramid of Kenya in 1950 shows the male to female percentages based upon age. The pyramid helps us determine the growth or decline of fertility, mortality, and migration in cities. Ages 0-19 are considered the kids, 20-64 are the economically active, and 65+ are the oldies. In Kenya in the 1950's there seemed to be a high birth rate but also a high death rate.
http://populationpyramid.net/ |
The population pyramid of Kenya in 2015 shows the male to female percentages based upon age. The pyramid helps us determine the growth or decline of fertility, mortality, and migration in cities. Ages 0-19 are considered the kids, 20-64 are the economically active, and 65+ are the oldies. Just like the map of the 50's, there seems to be a high birth rate but also a high death rate. As you can see the population from 1950- 2015 has increased by almost 40.7 million people. The cause of this could be a high birth rate or a large migration of people to Kenya in the past 65 years.
http://populationpyramid.net/ |
Sources:
Kenyalogy - Kenya Safari Web: History: Settlers, hunters & sportsmen. (2000, January 1). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.kenyalogy.com/eng/info/histo11.html
Cushitic peoples. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.enzimuseum.org/peoples-cultures/cushitic-peoples
State, U. (n.d.). A Brief History of Kenya. Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://africanhistory.about.com/od/kenya/p/KenyaHist.htm
Kenya profile. (2014, December 1). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176
The World Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html
Population and Housing Census 1962. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.knbs.or.ke/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=101:population-and-housing-census-1962&Itemid=599
Kenya Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://crawfurd.dk/africa/kenya_timeline.htm
World Population Review. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/kenya-population/
History of Kenya. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.travelsouk.com/dest/kenya/history.htm
Climate & Agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.our-africa.org/kenya/climate-agriculture
Kenyalogy - Kenya Safari Web: History: Settlers, hunters & sportsmen. (2000, January 1). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.kenyalogy.com/eng/info/histo11.html
Cushitic peoples. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.enzimuseum.org/peoples-cultures/cushitic-peoples
State, U. (n.d.). A Brief History of Kenya. Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://africanhistory.about.com/od/kenya/p/KenyaHist.htm
Kenya profile. (2014, December 1). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13682176
The World Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html
Population and Housing Census 1962. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.knbs.or.ke/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=101:population-and-housing-census-1962&Itemid=599
Kenya Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://crawfurd.dk/africa/kenya_timeline.htm
World Population Review. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/kenya-population/
History of Kenya. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.travelsouk.com/dest/kenya/history.htm
Climate & Agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.our-africa.org/kenya/climate-agriculture