Who built Great Zimbabwe? And why? - Breeanna Elliott
Summary
TLDRGreat 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
- π° Great Zimbabwe is a medieval stone city located in present-day Zimbabwe, known for its large stone walls and historical significance.
- π It is the largest known settlement ruins in Sub-Saharan Africa, second only to the pyramids of Egypt in size on the African continent.
- ποΈ The city's name, derived from the Shona word 'madzimbabwe', translates to 'big house of stone', reflecting its impressive stone architecture.
- ποΈ 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.
- π The city was part of the Indian Ocean trade routes, controlling the trade of valuable commodities like gold, ivory, and copper.
- π 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.
- πΊοΈ Archaeological findings include artifacts from Asia and coins from Kilwa Kisiwani, indicating the city's far-reaching trade connections.
- ποΈ 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.
- π The city's decline is theorized to be due to overcrowding, sanitation issues, and soil depletion, leading to the eventual dispersion of its population.
- ποΈ Despite colonial attempts to discredit its African origins, overwhelming evidence supports that Great Zimbabwe was built by indigenous African peoples.
- π 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
π° 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Great Zimbabwe
π‘Sub-Saharan Africa
π‘UNESCO World Heritage site
π‘Hill Complex
π‘Great Enclosure
π‘Valley Complex
π‘Intercontinental trade network
π‘Soapstone bird figures
π‘Colonialism
π‘African Nationalist movement
π‘Zimbabwean flag
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.
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