Northern Region
Livestock: Cattle, sheep, and goats were valuable commodities and played a central role in precolonial societies. They were not only used for sustenance but also served as a form of wealth and status. Livestock was large depended on for work such as ploughing, transport or even food. This was a common trading commodity across all regions of Namibia.
Central Region
Livestock, especially cattle, played a central role in this region in the economies of various indigenous groups. Cattle were not only a source of food but also a symbol of wealth and status. They were used in various forms of exchange and often served as a form of currency in trade. This region was a hub of trade, as it facilitated interactions with external regions, particularly those across the Indian Ocean. Items like marine resources, shells, and salt were traded with inland communities, contributing to the diversity of goods available in the region.European sailors and traders reached the Namibian coast, particularly the area of Walvis Bay, which was an attractive location due to its natural harbour.
A Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias is believed to have sailed along the Namibian coast during his explorations in the late 15th century. He opened doors for many others, who later established small settlements and trading posts along the coast, engaging in trade with indigenous groups. They traded European goods for ivory, animal hides, and other resources. In the Late 19th century, European interest in Africa intensifies, leading to increased exploration and interactions with indigenous communities in Namibia.
Around 1884-1885: The Berlin Conference formalizes European colonial claims in Africa, including German colonization of Namibia.: In the Early 1910s: German colonial administration focused on exploiting natural resources, including mining, particularly diamonds and copper which were available in this region. After the 1st World War: South Africa gains a League of Nations mandate to administer South West Africa (Namibia). 1920s-1930s: South African administration implemented policies that Favor the interests of white settlers, impacting trade dynamics and indigenous economies.
Southern Region
Livestock: Cattle and sheep were essential trade items due to their practical and symbolic value. They were exchanged for other goods and services, serving as a form of currency in indigenous trade networks. Ostrich Feathers: Ostrich feathers were used for adornment and ritual purposes. They were highly valued and traded across different regions. Copper and Metal Objects: Indigenous people engaged in small-scale mining of copper and other metals, which were fashioned into various objects like jewellery, tools, and ornaments. These items held both practical and cultural significance and were traded within and beyond the region. Shells and Beads: Shells and beads, often used for decorative purposes and as symbols of wealth and status.
Other trade items trade items included. Fish, diamonds, whales. The economic significance of diamond mining necessitated a well-structured monetary system. Namibia, as a German colony at the time, introduced its own currency, the German South West African Mark, to facilitate trade and economic activities. Mining activities in southern Namibia began during the early 20th century, with the discovery of valuable mineral resources such as diamonds and other minerals. One of the most significant mines that started during this period was the diamond mine in the town of Oranjemund. Wildlife, diamond mining, land, copper Products received from missionaries: Alcohol, cattle, guns, etc. 1907 A Labour Code is introduced to confirm the dispossession of Africans' land and cattle.
The law is also made applicable to the Nama communities who fought in the war. 1907 There is widespread famine and drought in the northern regions of the country. Karakul sheep are imported from Uzbekistan to increase commercial farming productivity in southern Namibia. Construction of a railway line by Deutsche Kolonial Eisenbahn Bau und Betriebs Gesellschaft commences from Seeheim to Karasburg. The railway line in compliance with the Cape gauge standard is opened between Lüderitz and Keetmanshoop via Seeheim. The Southern Route from Cape: European traders and explorers from the Cape Colony (present-day South Africa) were among the first to venture into Namibia. The Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, which later became a crucial stopover for ships traveling between Europe and the East Indies. The expansion northward into Namibia occurred during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Friedrich von Lindequist, a German merchant, and explorer was one of those who explored the region around Windhoek in 1806-07. The central/western region of Namibia witnessed a gradual shift in trade dynamics with the advent of external influences. The inhospitable appearance of the southwest African coast deterred initial exploration and trade efforts, but over time, a transformation occurred. During the 19th century, specifically around the 1800s, navigators began to recognize the strategic potential of the coast. Ports of call were established at Angra Pequena (modern-day Lüderitz), Walvis Bay, and Sandwich Harbour. These developments marked a significant turning point in the region's trade history.The coastal areas, once overlooked, became vital hubs for interactions between local nomadic groups and traders from afar. As trade connections grew, commodities such as weapons, ammunition, and brandy were introduced by European traders, adding new dimensions to the existing barter system.
The establishment of these ports marked the fusion of indigenous trade practices with external influences.Among others the presence of Europeans in Namibia by the 17th century and their involvement on trade at the cape of good hope at the Namib Desert Coast became a station for shipping to and from the Dutch possessions in the east. There was intense trade between the Europeans and Namibians with the locals’ exchanging cattle.The central and western regions of Namibia, particularly the coastal areas, attracted external traders due to their strategic location. For example, in 1723, the Dutch West India Company (DWIC) sent a vessel named Waerwijk to Walvis Bay to catch whales and engage in trade near the coast. This presence of external traders introduced new goods, technologies, and cultural influences on the region, expanding the range of items available for barter. Trade in this region included. Fish, diamonds, lead, zinc, gold, whales.