Definition
Great Zimbabwe was a medieval city and the capital of a powerful kingdom in southern Africa, in the region of present-day Zimbabwe. Flourishing roughly between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries, it is renowned for its massive dry-stone architecture, built without mortar.
At its height the city was a center of regional power, cattle wealth, and long-distance trade, home to thousands of people.
Why it matters
How it works
Great Zimbabwe grew prosperous through a combination of cattle herding, control of regional resources, and trade. Gold and ivory from the interior were exchanged along routes that connected to the East African coast and, beyond it, to the Indian Ocean world. Imported goods found at the site confirm these long-distance links. The city's distinctive stone enclosures expressed political and religious authority. Eventually the city declined, likely due to environmental pressure and shifting trade, and power moved to successor states in the region.