Khoisan hunter-gatherers

Khoisan hunter-gatherers appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Zambezi and Zimbabwe Plateau (Central and Southern Africa) from c. 3200 BCE to 1100 CE, a span of more than 4,300 years. Its people spoke Khoisan languages (Khoekhoe, San).

San-related foragers painted the rock shelters of the Matobo hills and the Zimbabwe plateau. Iron Age farmers absorbed or displaced most of them during the first millennium CE.

See Khoisan hunter-gatherers on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 3200 BCE to 1100 CE
Duration: more than 4,300 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Zambezi and Zimbabwe Plateau, Central and Southern Africa
Language family: Khoisan

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

1000 BCE Bantu farmers reach the Great Lakes
500 BCE Iron smelting in the Great Lakes
50 The Periplus describes Azania

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
Kilwa Sultanate c. 957 to 1513 CE
Kingdom of Mapungubwe c. 1075 to 1220 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Minoan civilization c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, Europe
Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa

Questions

When did Khoisan hunter-gatherers exist?

c. 3200 BCE to 1100 CE, about more than 4,300 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Khoisan hunter-gatherers?

Zambezi and Zimbabwe Plateau, in Central and Southern Africa.

What language did Khoisan hunter-gatherers speak?

Khoisan. This family includes Khoekhoe, San.