The Kingdom of Zimbabwe
The Kingdom of Zimbabwe
Author(s): The African Archives
Edited By The African Archives Editor
Type: Article
Country: Uganda
Language: English
Content:: Non Academic
Source: African World Press
Timeline: Prehistory - Any time before 10000 BC
Published: 2023
Download here
Description
Where? Zimbabwe
When? 1220 CE – 1450 CE
The Kingdom of Zimbabwe’s modern-day claim to fame is its capital, Great Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was home to around 18,000 people at its peak and spanned across an area of 7km2. While the kingdom’s heyday was from around 1220 CE onward, archaeologists estimate that the start of the kingdom was as early as the 11th century. This civilization had a monopoly on the trade of gold and ivory from the southeastern coast of the continent to the interior and were famed miners specializing in minerals such as copper, iron, and gold. While the success of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe led to the decline of Mapungubwe, Great Zimbabwe’s decline saw the rise of the Kingdom of Mutapa, the next entrant on our list.
Related Content
Join The African Archives
The African Archives is a global network of researchers, archivists that is open to anyone with interest in documenting African's history. There are many ways to contribute to the archive: as an individual or as an institution looking to share its content online, as a professional archivist, as a history researcher, or as someone with a love for cultural heritage. You may join as a: