Bantu & Bantu Migrations Factors of Migration .The Push and Pull factors of migration are those factors which either forcibly push people to migrate, or which draw them to a certain area. ·These factors tend to be political, economic, social and environmen- tal on both sides. ·Factors which PUSH people into migration: - Environmental conditions, including drought, natural disasters, or man-made pollution - Famine, or starvation - Political persecution, repression or death threats, warfare - Few economic opportunities, lack of jobs, or poor living conditions - Slavery ·Factors which PULL people to migrate: - Environmental advantages like fertile land, fresh water or longer growing season - Economic advantages like more affluence, more jobs, better living conditions, or better medical care - Social advantages like freedom, education, or greater potential for courtship - Political and or religious freedom .In the case of the Bantu, histori- ans speculate that their popula- tion grew to such a degree, that the land of West Africa could no longer support them. .With the Sahara advancing from the north, the Bantu migrated south and east across the continent in search of more farm land. OLMS/10 Paths of Migration .The migration of the Bantu people seems to have occurred in waves or phases over a 2000 year phase I phase II $ phase III period. ·The earliest phase began around 1500 BCE and ran several hundred years as the Bantu migrated south and east. ·The next phase began around 1000 BCE, as even greater waves of Bantu swept eastward. .The final phase began around the year zero, lasted several hundred years, and involved extensive migration from the east to the south. In general, the eastern part of the continent has land that is more suitable for farming. Influence of Migration .All told, this is one of the largest human migrations in history, as millions of Bantu migrated over thousands of years. .One of the effects of migration in general is Cultural diffusion, and in this Case, the Bantu brought their knowledge of agriculture and of iron smelting to eastern and southern Africa. This allowed them to colonize new areas in great numbers - pushing out hunter-gatherer tribes. .Most importantly, the Bantu spread their language. More than 500 languages in Afri- ca today are Bantu based languages - spo- ken by more than 85 million people. Swahili is a Bantu based language, and is the lingua franca (the common language) of Eastern Africa.