Great Zimbabwe’s economic success came
from its ability to mitigate trade from Africa’s coast with trade from the continent’s interior
.
How did Great Zimbabwe grow wealthy?
The wealth of Great Zimbabwe lay
in cattle production and gold
. … One theory is that the rulers of Great Zimbabwe did not have direct control over the gold mines, but rather managed the trade in it, buying up huge quantities in exchange for cattle.
What factors led to the rise of Great Zimbabwe?
Mining-iron, gold, tin and copper
all contributed to the rise of the Great Zimbabwe state. The rulers became wealthy in mineral resources and the control of these resources enabled the Shona to exert control over neighbouring groups and for the rulers to exert control over their subjects.
What was the economy of Great Zimbabwe based on?
With an economy based on
cattle husbandry, crop cultivation, and the trade of gold on the coast of the Indian Ocean
, Great Zimbabwe was the heart of a thriving trading empire from the 11th to the 15th centuries. The word zimbabwe, the country’s namesake, is a Shona (Bantu) word meaning “stone houses.”
What were the main products and resources the Great Zimbabwe contributed to the Indian Ocean economy?
At its peak in the 13th and 14th century, Great Zimbabwe thrived on
cattle herding, gold mining and commerce
with the Swahili port city of Sofala on the Indian Ocean. It produced cotton and pottery.
What led to a decline in Great Zimbabwe 5 points?
Causes suggested for the decline and ultimate abandonment of the city of Great Zimbabwe have included a
decline in trade compared to sites further north
, the exhaustion of the gold mines, political instability, and famine and water shortages induced by climatic change.
What was the Society of Great Zimbabwe like?
But, like Mapungubwe and Thulamela, Great Zimbabwe had a ruling class. They seemed to have
controlled their wealth through the management of cattle
, which was the staple food. At its largest Great Zimbabwe had a population of between 10 000 and 20 000 people.
What did people trade in Great Zimbabwe to become rich?
The wealth of Great Zimbabwe lay in
cattle production and gold
. One theory is that the rulers of Great Zimbabwe did not have direct control over the gold mines, but rather managed the trade in it, buying up huge quantities in exchange for cattle.
What was Great Zimbabwe used for?
Great Zimbabwe is believed to have served as
a royal palace for the local monarch
. As such, it would have been used as the seat of political power. Among the edifice’s most prominent features were its walls, some of which are eleven metres high.
Who really built Great Zimbabwe?
Begun during the eleventh century A.D. by
Bantu-speaking ancestors of the Shona
, Great Zimbabwe was constructed and expanded for more than 300 years in a local style that eschewed rectilinearity for flowing curves.
What contributed to the economic success of Great Zimbabwe?
Great Zimbabwe’s economic success came from
its ability to mitigate trade from Africa’s coast with trade from the continent’s interior
.
What resources did Zimbabwe trade the most?
Major exports include
gold, tobacco, metal alloys, cotton, and sugar
.
What interpretation has been made for the buildings of Great Zimbabwe?
Because the Great Enclosure shares many structural similarities with the Hill Ruin, one interpretation suggests that the Great Enclosure was
built to accommodate a surplus population and its religious and administrative activities.
What was the importance of Great Zimbabwe in the Indian Ocean trade routes?
The city-states traded with inland kingdoms like Great Zimbabwe
to obtain gold, ivory, and iron
. These materials were then sold to places like India, Southeast Asia, and China. These were Africa’s exports in the Indian Ocean Trade. These items could be sold at a profit because they were scarce in Asian countries.
Why were the Portuguese able to dominate trade in the Indian Ocean?
The aim of Portugal in the Indian Ocean was
to ensure the monopoly of the spice trade
. Taking advantage of the rivalries that pitted Hindus against Muslims, the Portuguese established several forts and trading posts between 1500 and 1510.
How did the Portuguese impact Indian Ocean trade?
In conclusion, the Portuguese transformed and influenced the maritime trade system in the Indian Ocean by force.
They took over trading cities, destroyed Muslim trade ships, and imposed taxes to get their way
. Now the Portuguese are dominant in the region and are very wealthy.
