Origin of the Great Zimbabwe State
The Great Zimbabwe state was one of the late Iron Age states in pre-colonial Zimbabwe. It is located
in present day Masvingo. It was built by the Karanga speaking people.
Reasons for the rise of Great Zimbabwe / Factors which led to the rise of Great Zimbabwe
Political reasons for the rise of Great Zimbabwe state
A strong army led to the rise of this state.
The decline of Mapungubwe state led to its rise. Its fall meant that wealth now flowed into the
Great Zimbabwe state in form of tribute and control of trade.
Peace and stability led to its rise.
The hill top was probably chosen for defence against enemies and as centre for religious
worship.
The rise of ambitious leaders who undertook conquest of other lineages to control trade
routes, resources and to levy tribute.
The place was suitable for taking refuge in war time [Nemanwa Hill].
Control of religion by rulers led to its rise. Rulers were regarded as divinely appointed hence
commanded universal respect.
Economic reasons for the rise of Great Zimbabwe
There was availability of fertile soils in the area around Great Zimbabwe which promoted
crop cultivation.
Availability of good pastures which promoted livestock production [pastoralism] led to its
rise.
Abundance of minerals like gold [in the neighbourhood] for trade and iron for tool making led
to its rise.
Availability of game [fauna] for meat, skins and ivory in the area led to its rise.
Favourable climate, that is, good rainfall led to its rise.
Availability of water from nearby rivers such as Mutirikwi led to its rise.
The area was accessible to international trade with the Swahili, Arabs, Persians and Chinese
through Sofala.
Control of surplus production by leaders also contributed.
The area was free from tsetse flies thereby promoting animal rearing.
Social factors which led to the rise of Great Zimbabwe
Polygamy which ensured adequate labour supply and soldiers led to its rise.
Loaning of cattle [kuronzera] helped to unify people and made the leaders strong and it also
attracted many people to come under their control.
The increase in population led to the rise of Great Zimbabwe.
Religion helped in unifying people within the state.
The hill was regarded as sacred for religious purposes.
Availability of granite rocks enabled people to build the stone walls.
The Construction [Building] of Great Zimbabwe walls
Great Zimbabwe was built by the Shona people.
It was built between 1100 AD and 1450 AD.
Granite rocks were used to build Great Zimbabwe.
The rocks were heated, cooled and split.
They were shaped into blocks.
No mortar was used.
The walls were thick at the base and narrower at the top.
Availability of labour to build the walls
Reasons for building Great Zimbabwe / Function / Purpose of Great Zimbabwe
As a symbol of power -As a religious centre
For privacy -As an enclosure for animals
For prestige -As an administrative centre
As a living place for nobles -As a fortress in times of war
For shelter -To show unity
As a centre of trade -As a storage for grain and minerals
For receiving visitors -Tribute collection
As a cultural centre -Expression of art
As a capital -To spot enemies
As the mambos’ court / headquarters [Muzindawamambo]
For environmental factors like pastures, rich soils and good rainfall
Economic Organisation of Great Zimbabwe
They traded both among themselves and with foreigners.
They gathered wild fruits, roots, berries, vegetables, wild honey, mushroom and insects.
They raided other states for grain, cattle and women.
All subjects paid tribute to the king in form of grain, cattle, goats, sheep, labour, girls, boys,
gold, ivory, tools, and precious skins.
They kept animals like cattle goats and sheep.
They grew crops like sorghum, millet, rapoko, melons, pumpkins, beans, cowpeas and
gourds.
They hunted animals for meat, ivory and hides [skins].
They caught fish to supplement their diet.
They mined minerals like gold, copper and iron.
Uses [Importance] of cattle in the Great Zimbabwe State
Payment of lobola [bride price] -Symbol of wealth
Loaning- for political influence -For trade
Payment of tribute -For ritual ceremonies
For food, milk, meat and fat -For transport
For skins [mates, clothes and blankets] -For making shields
For making drums -Provision of manure
Cow dung applied on floors -Draught power
Sacrifice -Ropes
Strops from skins -Sandals
Payment of fines -In the blast furnace
Paying avenging spirits
Craft works practised by the people of Great Zimbabwe
Pottery -Basketry
Weaving -Blacksmithing
Stone carving -Wood carving
Leather work -Making Jewellery
Drum making -Building in stone
Agricultural activities of the people of Great Zimbabwe
They cultivated crops like millet, sorghum and gourds for food and brewing of beer.
Cultivation was done by hand using hoes.
They practised shifting cultivation.
Cultivation was mainly done by women.
They also reared domestic animals like cattle, goats and sheep for meat and milk.
It was the task of men to herd cattle.
They practised the transhumance system.
Cattle were normally slaughtered at ritual ceremonies like bira and rain making ceremonies.
They practised loaning of cattle.
They used the slash and burn system of cultivation.
Trading Activities of the people of Great Zimbabwe
The people of Great Zimbabwe traded both internally and externally.
Locally, they traded among themselves.
Locally, they exchanged local products, such as iron tools, pottery, baskets, cattle and grain.
Externally, they traded with foreigners like Arabs, Swahili, Indians, Chinese, Portuguese,
Persians and the Tonga.
They exported ivory, gold, baskets, ostrich feathers, grain, livestock, iron tools, precious
animal skins and the like.
They imported glass beads, Chinese bowls, cloth, soapstone bowls, bangles, mirrors, spirits,
wires, copper chains, candles and the like.
Sofala was the main port of trade.
Traders paid tribute to the king.
The king controlled and protected trade routes.
Artefacts [man made remains] discovered at Great Zimbabwe
Chinese stone wares / porcelain / dishes -A copper box
Glass beads -Persian bowls
Mirrors -Iron gongs
Soapstone bowls -Bangles
Anklets -Near Eastern glasses
Copper rings -Iron spoon
Iron lamp holder -Copper chains
-Figurines -Candles
Soapstone bird -Ceramics [pots]
Brass wire -Iron wire
Sea shells
Social Organisation of Great Zimbabwe
The society was patrilineal.
Ownership of cattle was a status symbol.
The practiced polygamy.
There was sexual division of labour.
They practised kuronzera [loaning of cattle].
They paid lobola to their in-laws in form of cattle.
They celebrated the birth of a new child.
They celebrated the coming of a new daughter-in-law.
They practised the nhimbe system.
Incest and bestiality were taboos.
They believed in God, Mwari [Musikavanhu].
They believed in spirit mediums [Masvikiro] and ancestral spirits [Vadzimu].
They also believed in national spirit mediums [Mhondoro].
The king was chosen by spirit mediums.
They practised ceremonies like rain making ceremonies [Mukwerera / Mutoro].
The king led at all religious ceremonies of national importance.
They believed that spirits lived in thick forests, pools and thick forests.
They believed in witchcraft.
Importance of religion in the political system of Great Zimbabwe
Religion unified people.
Rain making ceremonies brought people together.
The common belief in God unified people.
The king commanded universal respect since his position was a divine one.
Spirit mediums appointed the kings.
Spirit mediums stayed at the royal court providing advice and guidance to the king.
Political Organisation of Great Zimbabwe
The king was the head of the state.
Kingship was hereditary.
The king was the commander in chief of the army.
The king was the judicial leader.
The king was the chief judge.
The king led at all religious ceremonies.
The king was the chief distributer of land.
The king was helped to rule by a council of elders called Dare in Shona.
The districts were under district chiefs.
Provinces were under provincial chiefs.
The chiefs were appointed by the king.
The posts of chiefs were hereditary.
Subjects paid tribute to the king to show loyalty.
They raided other states for grain, cattle and the like.
There were also important officials apart from the king in the state such as the Queen mother,
King’s sons in law, army commanders, spirit mediums, royal doctor, district and provincial
chiefs.
Importance of tribute in the political system of Great Zimbabwe
Payment of tribute ensured loyalty of lesser chiefs to the king.
Tribute payment made sure that lesser chiefs would not become too rich, powerful and
ambitious.
Tribute increased the wealth, power and influence of the king.
Other Madzimbabwe
Naletale -Khami
Munekwani -Ruanga
Nhunguza -Tsindi
Chipadze
The Decline of Great Zimbabwe State
Political reasons for the decline of Great Zimbabwe
There were civil wars in the state, for example, between Nyatsimba Mutota and Chagwa
[1450] leading to Mutota’s migration.
Succession disputes in the ruling family forced losers to move.
The state became too big to be ruled by one ruler.
The rise of new states like Torwa and Mutapa led to its decline.
Corruption and disunity in the ruling class led to its decline.
There was emergence of ambitious people in the royal family like Nyatsimba Mutota who
also wanted to rule.
Wars and attacks from the Sotho and Tswana to the South West of Great Zimbabwe led to its
decline.
The Dande region was occupied by weak people such as the Tonga, Tavara and the Korekore.
Weaknesses of the army at Great Zimbabwe led to the decline of this state.
Outdated means of state control led to its decline.
There was emergence of rivalry in the ruling family.
Economic reasons for the decline of Great Zimbabwe
Loss of control of long distance trade to Mutapa led to its decline.
There was shortage of resources like salt, pastures, wood and the like.
Exhaustion of soil leading to poor harvests led to the fall of this state.
Exhaustion of minerals such as gold, copper and iron at Great Zimbabwe and its neighbours
led to its decline.
Exhaustion of game [fauna] for meat, skins and ivory led to its collapse.
The Dande area was rich in resources like game, especially elephants for ivory and also gold
and salt led to its decline.
There were poor harvests due to severe droughts.
The soil in Dande was rich.
Social reasons for the decline of Great Zimbabwe
There was overpopulation which resulted in shortage of land.
Successive droughts [between 1420 and 1430] led to the decline of Great Zimbabwe.
Social instability in the state [social unrest] led to its decline.
The plague of locusts also contributed to the decline of this state.
