Who built Great Zimbabwe? And why? - Breeanna Elliott

Summary

Great Zimbabwe, a medieval stone city in southern Africa, was a major African trade center from the 14th to 15th centuries. Known for its impressive stone walls and rich history, it was a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986. The city's prosperity was fueled by gold, ivory, and copper trade, with a diverse population. Archaeological findings suggest its decline due to overcrowding and soil depletion. Historically, its African origins were disputed during colonization but are now celebrated, symbolizing national pride in Zimbabwe.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Great Zimbabwe is a medieval stone city located in present-day Zimbabwe, known for its large stone walls and historical significance.
• 🌍 It is the largest known settlement ruins in Sub-Saharan Africa, second only to the pyramids of Egypt in size on the African continent.
• 🏛️ The city's name, derived from the Shona word 'madzimbabwe', translates to 'big house of stone', reflecting its impressive stone architecture.
• 🗓️ Great Zimbabwe was a thriving city during the 14th and 15th centuries, with a population of 18,000 at its peak and a key player in the African trade network.
• 🔄 The city was part of the Indian Ocean trade routes, controlling the trade of valuable commodities like gold, ivory, and copper.
• 🌐 It had a significant Arab and Indian trader presence due to its mercantile power and was connected to several key city-states along the East African Swahili Coast.
• 🗺️ Archaeological findings include artifacts from Asia and coins from Kilwa Kisiwani, indicating the city's far-reaching trade connections.
• 🕊️ Soapstone bird figures found on site are believed to represent the city's rulers, and the discovery of young calf bones near the royal residence suggests a diet of the elite.
• 📉 The city's decline is theorized to be due to overcrowding, sanitation issues, and soil depletion, leading to the eventual dispersion of its population.
• 🏛️ Despite colonial attempts to discredit its African origins, overwhelming evidence supports that Great Zimbabwe was built by indigenous African peoples.
• 🏁 Today, Great Zimbabwe is a symbol of national pride and cultural value in Zimbabwe, featured on the national flag by a soapstone bird.

Q & A

Where is Great Zimbabwe located?

Great Zimbabwe is located in the present-day country of Zimbabwe, in southern Africa.

What is the significance of Great Zimbabwe's name?

The name 'Great Zimbabwe' comes from the Shona word 'madzimbabwe', meaning 'big house of stone', reflecting its large, unscalable stone walls.

Why was Great Zimbabwe named a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Great Zimbabwe was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 due to its grandeur and historical significance.

What were the three main areas of Great Zimbabwe?

The three main areas of Great Zimbabwe were the Hill Complex, where the king lived; the Great Enclosure, reserved for members of the royal family; and the Valley Complex, where regular citizens lived.

How did Great Zimbabwe become a major African trade center?

Great Zimbabwe became a major African trade center due to its influential role in an intercontinental trade network, controlling the sources and trade of gold, ivory, and copper.

What artifacts have been discovered at Great Zimbabwe that indicate its trade connections?

Artifacts discovered at Great Zimbabwe include pottery shards and glassworks from Asia, coins from the coastal trading city of Kilwa Kisiwani, and soapstone bird figures.

What theories have been proposed for the decline of Great Zimbabwe?

Theories for the decline of Great Zimbabwe include overcrowding, sanitation issues, and soil depletion triggered by overuse, leading to a decrease in agricultural productivity and worsening living conditions.

How did European colonization impact the understanding of Great Zimbabwe's origins?

During European colonization, racist colonial officials claimed the ruins couldn't be of African origin and relied on myths to explain the city's magnificence, disputing the idea that it was built by indigenous peoples.

What role did Great Zimbabwe play in the African Nationalist movement?

Great Zimbabwe became an important symbol for the African Nationalist movement during the 1960s and 70s, representing African achievement and heritage.

How is Great Zimbabwe represented on the Zimbabwean flag?

Great Zimbabwe is represented on the Zimbabwean flag by a soapstone bird, symbolizing the city's historical and cultural importance.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Great Zimbabwe: A Legacy of Wealth and Controversy

Great Zimbabwe, located in present-day Zimbabwe, is renowned as the largest known settlement ruins in Sub-Saharan Africa, second only to the Egyptian pyramids. This medieval stone city, named after the Shona word for 'big house of stone,' features towering stone walls and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. It flourished between the 14th and 15th centuries, with a population of 18,000, and was a significant African trade center. The city's prosperity stemmed from its control over gold, ivory, and copper trade, with connections to the Indian Ocean trade routes. Archaeological findings, including artifacts from Asia and Africa, suggest a diverse and influential trade network. The city's decline is attributed to overcrowding, sanitation issues, and soil depletion. The historical narrative of Great Zimbabwe has been contentious, with early European colonizers denying African origin, but evidence supports that it was indeed built by indigenous peoples. It has since become a symbol of African nationalism and national pride in Zimbabwe.

Keywords

💡Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe refers to a medieval stone city located in modern-day Zimbabwe, renowned for its extensive ruins that signify a city of great wealth and prestige. It is the largest known settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa and is second only to the pyramids of Egypt in terms of size on the African continent. The term is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing the city's historical significance, architectural marvels, and the controversies surrounding its origins.

💡Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is a term used to describe the region of the African continent that lies below the Sahara Desert. In the context of the video, it is important as it places Great Zimbabwe within a geographical and cultural setting, highlighting its role as a major settlement and trade center in this part of Africa.

💡UNESCO World Heritage site

A UNESCO World Heritage site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Great Zimbabwe was named a World Heritage site in 1986, underscoring its cultural and historical importance. This status is a testament to the city's global recognition and the need for its preservation.

💡Hill Complex

The Hill Complex is one of the three main areas of Great Zimbabwe, where the king lived. It is a significant part of the video's narrative as it represents the political and possibly religious center of power within the city, showcasing the social hierarchy and the architectural prowess of the civilization.

💡Great Enclosure

The Great Enclosure is another key area of Great Zimbabwe, reserved for members of the royal family. It is an example of the city's social stratification and the privileged status of the ruling class. The enclosure's mention in the video emphasizes the city's complex social structure and the importance of royal lineage.

💡Valley Complex

The Valley Complex is where regular citizens of Great Zimbabwe lived, contrasting with the Hill Complex and the Great Enclosure. It illustrates the living conditions and social dynamics of the non-elite population, providing a more complete picture of the city's societal makeup.

💡Intercontinental trade network

An intercontinental trade network refers to the extensive web of trade routes that connected different continents, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas. Great Zimbabwe's role in such a network is highlighted in the video, emphasizing its economic power and influence, which was derived from controlling the trade of valuable commodities like gold, ivory, and copper.

💡Soapstone bird figures

Soapstone bird figures are artifacts discovered at the site, believed to represent each of the city's rulers. These figures are significant as they provide a tangible link to the city's past, offering insights into the artistic and cultural expressions of the civilization, as well as their symbolic representation of authority.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is the practice of a powerful nation exerting control over a less developed society, often with the aim of economic exploitation. The video discusses how colonial officials attempted to discredit the African origins of Great Zimbabwe, reflecting the broader historical context of colonialism's impact on cultural identity and the rewriting of history.

💡African Nationalist movement

The African Nationalist movement refers to the political and social movement advocating for African self-determination and the end of colonial rule. In the video, Great Zimbabwe is depicted as a symbol of this movement, representing the pride and cultural heritage of African peoples, and serving as a rallying point for nationalist sentiment.

💡Zimbabwean flag

The Zimbabwean flag is the national flag of Zimbabwe, which features a soapstone bird, symbolizing the country's heritage and the importance of Great Zimbabwe. The flag's mention in the video ties the ancient city to modern national identity, showcasing the enduring significance of Great Zimbabwe in the collective consciousness of Zimbabweans.

Highlights

Great Zimbabwe is a medieval stone city located in southern Africa, present-day Zimbabwe.

It is the largest known settlement ruins in Sub-Saharan Africa, second only to the pyramids of Egypt.

The name 'Great Zimbabwe' comes from the Shona word 'madzimbabwe', meaning 'big house of stone'.

It features unscalable stone walls nearly ten meters high and about 250 meters long.

Great Zimbabwe was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, it was a thriving city with an urban population of 18,000 people.

The city was one of the major African trade centers, controlling trade of gold, ivory, and copper.

Great Zimbabwe was part of the Indian Ocean trade routes and had connections with East African city-states.

Artifacts discovered on site include pottery shards, glassworks from Asia, and coins from Kilwa Kisiwani.

Soapstone bird figures found may represent each of the city's rulers.

Young calf bones found near the royal residence indicate a diet of the elite different from the general population.

Overcrowding, sanitation issues, and soil depletion are theorized as causes for the city's decline.

The population of Great Zimbabwe dispersed and formed the Mutapa and Torwa states.

During European colonization, racist colonial officials claimed the ruins couldn't be of African origin.

Archaeologist David Randall-MacIver provided evidence that Great Zimbabwe was built by indigenous peoples.

The colonial government sought to discredit this theory to maintain their rule's legitimacy.

Great Zimbabwe became a symbol for the African Nationalist movement in the 1960s and 70s.

Today, the ruins are a source of national pride and cultural value, symbolized on the Zimbabwean flag.

Transcripts

Stretched across a tree-peppered expanse in southern Africa

lies the magnificent ruins of Great Zimbabwe,

a medieval stone city of astounding wealth and prestige.

Located in the present-day country of Zimbabwe,

it's the sight of the largest known settlement ruins in Sub-Saharan Africa,

second on the continent only to the pyramids of Egypt.

But the history of this city is shrouded in controversy,

defined by decades of dispute about who built it and why.

Its name comes from the Shona word madzimbabwe,

meaning big house of stone

for its unscalable stone walls that reach heights of nearly ten meters

and run for a length of about 250 meters.

For its grandeur and historical significance,

it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

Back in the 14th and 15th centuries, it was a thriving city.

Spread across nearly eight square-kilometers,

Great Zimbabwe was defined by three main areas:

the Hill Complex, where the king lived;

the Great Enclosure, reserved for members of the royal family;

and the Valley Complex, where regular citizens lived.

Rulers were both powerful economic and religious leaders for the region.

At its highest point,

the city had a bustling urban population of 18,000 people

and was one of the major African trade centers at the time.

What enabled this growth was Great Zimbabwe's influential role

in an intercontinental trade network.

Connected to several key city-states along the East African Swahili Coast,

it was part of the larger Indian Ocean trade routes.

The city generated its riches by controlling the sources and trade

of the most prized items:

gold,

ivory,

and copper.

With this mercantile power, it was able to extend its sphere of influence

across continents,

fostering a strong Arab and Indian trader presence throughout its zenith.

Archaeologists have since pieced together the details of this history

through artifacts discovered on site.

There were pottery shards and glassworks from Asia,

as well as coins minted in the coastal trading city of Kilwa Kisiwani

over 1,500 miles away.

They also found soapstone bird figures,

which are thought to represent each of the city's rulers,

and young calf bones, only unearthed near the royal residence,

show how the diet of the elite differed from the general population.

These clues have also led to theories about the city's decline.

By the mid-15th century,

the buildings at Great Zimbabwe were almost all that remained.

Archaeological evidence points to overcrowding

and sanitation issues as the cause,

compounded by soil depletion triggered by overuse.

Eventually, as crops withered and conditions in the city worsened,

the population of Great Zimbabwe is thought to have dispersed

and formed the nearby Mutapa and Torwa states.

Centuries later, a new phase of Great Zimbabwe's influence

began to play out in the political realm

as people debated who had built the famous city of stone.

During the European colonization of Africa,

racist colonial officials claimed the ruins couldn't be of African origin.

So, without a detailed written record on hand,

they instead relied on myths to explain the magnificence of Great Zimbabwe.

Some claimed it proved the Bible story of the Queen of Sheba

who lived in a city of riches.

Others argued it was built by the Ancient Greeks.

Then, in the early 20th century after extensive excavation at the site,

the archaeologist David Randall-MacIver

presented clear evidence that Great Zimbabwe

was built by indigenous peoples.

Yet, at the time, the country's white minority colonial government

sought to discredit this theory because it challenged the legitimacy of their rule.

In fact, the government actively encouraged historians

to produce accounts that disputed the city's African origins.

Over time, however, an overwhelming body of evidence mounted,

identifying Great Zimbabwe as an African city built by Africans.

During the 1960s and 70s,

Great Zimbabwe became an important symbol for the African Nationalist movement

that was spreading across the continent.

Today, the ruins at Great Zimbabwe,

alluded to on the Zimbabwean flag by a soapstone bird,

still stand as a source of national pride and cultural value.