GREAT ZIMBABUE

Two-hundred acres of stone ruins lay across modern-day Zimbabwe and Mozambique. (ITC) About 19 miles southeast of Masvingo is where Great Zimbabwe used to be. (ITC) At its peak, this settlement was home to more than 20,000 Shona people. (ITC) They likely first settled in the area around 400 AD, but by 1,000 AD the population was divided into ranks. (ITC) This land was appealing as it offered great opportunities for trading, with fertile and mineral rich land. It was also a trade center for South Africa as it was located between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, which connect to the Indian Ocean. this put Zimbabue in a position to trade with India, which would provide a boost to the economy. (ITC) Great Zimbabwe’s economy was heavily dependent on trading gold and cattle that was found in the area. Depletion of these goods was one of the reasons the settlement ended up abandoning the area. (ITC)

Great Zimbabwe was a monarchy of Shona elite. (ITC) The king was helped by family members and appointed governors for regions that were far away. (ITC) The history and ancestry of the monarchy is unknown but the first record is Chikura Wa Dyambeu. (ITC) His son, Nyatsimba Mutota ruled the area from around 1420 to 1450. (ITC) He was part of an expansion of the area that gathered a large portion of Mozambique into the Great Zimbabwe rule. At the end of his rule he decided to relocate the capital to a city closer to gold deposits called Khami. (ITC) The center of the government in the ruins consisted of the large stone complex which is referred to as the Great Enclosure. (ITC) It is the “ largest single ancient structure in the sub Saharan Africa.” There are two walls located around the main stone buildings. These 36 feet tall walls created passes that totaled at around 180 feet in length that lead to the Conical Tower of the site. (ITC) It is part of three main areas of the stone ruins, the other two being the Hill Complex and the Valley Ruins. (ITC) The Hill Complex which was previously called the acropolis was the religious center of the city. (ITC) It is the oldest part of the site as it was estimated to be built around 900 AD. (ITC) This part of the ruins stands on a steep part of a hill at the northern part of the ruins. Located between the Great Enclosure and Hill Complex is the Valley Ruins. The land include remnants of daga buildings, which were made of earthen and mud-brick. (ITC) These houses are assumed to be home to they commoners of the city, who were artisans and farmers.

Along with the famous stone ruins, Great Zimbabwe was also known for its music, pottery, and of course ironwork. These goods were traded as well as millet, sorghum, corn, rice, beans, peanuts, and sweet potatoes which farmers grew. The culture and daily lives of the people were dependent on the status of the person. The king would have been in charge of relations with foreign affairs like trading, whereas farmers and cooks would have gathered goods and made meals for the royals. After almost 1,000 years of farming and mining at this site, a draught came over the area of not only water and farming land, but as gold. As the population was growing quickly, the loss of minerals and farming land lead to the fall of Great Zimbabwe. By 1,500 AD the site was fully abandoned. The people had either moved north to establish the Mutapa or south to the Torwa state.

The ruins were first encountered in the late 16th century by Europeans who believed it was the city Ophir. Great Zimbabwe did not only have an affect on South Africa then, but it also has one on the area now. In 1986 the land of Great Zimbabwe became a national monument and World Heritage site. In the late 1800’s, architects stumbled upon soapstone sculptures of birds at the site. This Zimbabwe bird is currently the national symbol and is also included in the flag of Zimbabwe. Perhaps the largest effect on the area is that the country was named after this civilization.