Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe

• Mapungubwe was abandoned around 1300

• Archeologists do not know why.

• Great Zimbabwe developed further up North

• ​Present day Zimbabwe is named after this African trading state

• As with Mapungubwe - the King, his family and advisors had most of the power​

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Great Zimbabwe

1280 - 1450​

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• The stone walls called enclosures because they housed important people.

• ​Many stone walls are still standing today but most of the town is in ruins

• ​Archeologists found important evidence about how they lived:

  • First enclosures were built on a hill​

  • The king lived on top of the hill, seperate from ordinary people

  • Large huts were built on hill slopes

  • In the valley below small huts were built closer together

  • The people of Great Zimbabwe were traders

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​The people of Great Zimbabwe traded gold, iron and ivory.

They traded for items like cloth, glass and glazed pottery

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They traded with Arab traders on the East Coast of Africa

• 8 bird statues were found at Great Zimbabwe

• The people believed:

  • Birds carried messages to and from ancestors

  • Leaders were believed to be like crocodiles.

    • They did not fear enemies

    • The lived many years​

    • Communicated with ancestors

Bird statues & beliefs

Open Ended

Present day Zimbabwe is named after this african trading state -

Multiple Select

Why did people settle at Great Zimbabwe?

• The ocean was nearby to trade

• Nice weather

• Live on a plateau to see enemies approaching

• Water for crops and to drink

Multiple Choice

True or false: The King, his family and his advisors had less power than ordinary people?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The state of Great Zimbabwe today?

• Flourishing, bustling and modern city

• Still standing but most of the town is in ruins

Multiple Choice

First enclosures were built on a

• farm

• deserted island

• hill

• flat grassland

Multiple Choice

True or false: The King lived on top of a hill seperately from ordinary people

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Many large huts were built

• in the forest

• on the slopes of the hill

• in circles around a kraal

• On the foot of the mountain

Multiple Choice

Eight bird statues were found at Great Zimbabwe. The people believed that birds

• carried diseases

• carried messages to and from ancestors

• were delicous

Multiple Select

The people believed leaders

• communicated with ancestors

• lived for many years

• did not feat thier enemies