Answer to Question #130822 in History for Marno Plank

Question

Outline the main reasons for the transition from intensive to extensive agriculture in the south-western Cape towards the end of the 17th century.

Answer 1

The south Western Cape has a long history of human occupation and utilization. Before the coming of the colonial rulers, people already settled in the region and went on with their daily activities. The south Western Cape is the largest region in South Africa. The region experiences the Mediterranean –type of climate. The region did not receive enough rainfall during the 17^th century and farming became a problem. The soil was not also fertile; the type of soil was clay meaning there was high level of soil erosion. Since intensive farming requires a lot of investment in terms of labor and capital, the areas was not suitable as the produce were low, hence they opted to use extensive kind of farming in the region.