TOPIC six

Mapungubwe was eventually abandoned. Archeologists are not sure why this happened. Shortly after this, between 1280 and 1450, a similar state developed further north at Great Zimbabwe. 

Present-day Zimbabwe is named after this African trading state. 

Many things about Great Zimbabwe were similar to the Mapungubwe state. Great Zimbabwe was also a complex kingdom where the king, his family and advisors had more power than the ordinary people.

Many of the stone walls of the Great Zimbabwe settlement are still standing. But most of the town lies in ruins today.

This is what is left of the town of Great Zimbabwe. The walls were called enclosures as they closed in the important people in the town. Archaeologists have investigated the ruins and found some interesting evidence about how people lived.

• The first enclosures were built on the hill.

• The king lived on top of the hill and was separated from the ordinary people.

• Many large huts were built on the slopes of the hill.

• In the valley below, smaller huts were built much closer together.

• The people in Great Zimbabwe traded gold, iron and ivory for things like glass, cloth and glazed pottery with the Arab traders on the Swahili coast.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY 1

Try the following EduCandy for today's topic.

Great Zimbabwe EduCandy Quiz 

EXTENSION ACTIVITY 2

Try the following Quizziz quiz on today's topic.