Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary purpose of Great Zimbabwe during its peak?
What was the primary purpose of Great Zimbabwe during its peak?
Great Zimbabwe was built between the 11th and 14th centuries.
Great Zimbabwe was built between the 11th and 14th centuries.
True
Who was one of the first foreigners to encounter the site of Great Zimbabwe?
Who was one of the first foreigners to encounter the site of Great Zimbabwe?
Viçente Pegado
The city of Great Zimbabwe is located in modern-day ______.
The city of Great Zimbabwe is located in modern-day ______.
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Match the explorers with their contributions or beliefs about Great Zimbabwe:
Match the explorers with their contributions or beliefs about Great Zimbabwe:
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What unique feature did Great Zimbabwe possess that facilitated water drainage?
What unique feature did Great Zimbabwe possess that facilitated water drainage?
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Captain Pegado described the fortress as being made with mortar.
Captain Pegado described the fortress as being made with mortar.
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What was the estimated population of Great Zimbabwe at its peak?
What was the estimated population of Great Zimbabwe at its peak?
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What did Cecil Rhodes aim to prove about the Great Zimbabwe civilization?
What did Cecil Rhodes aim to prove about the Great Zimbabwe civilization?
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The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe successfully eliminated all threats to the preservation of Great Zimbabwe.
The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe successfully eliminated all threats to the preservation of Great Zimbabwe.
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Who became prime minister of Zimbabwe in 1980?
Who became prime minister of Zimbabwe in 1980?
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Great Zimbabwe was designated a ____________ in 1986.
Great Zimbabwe was designated a ____________ in 1986.
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What kind of shrub has posed a challenge to the preservation of Great Zimbabwe?
What kind of shrub has posed a challenge to the preservation of Great Zimbabwe?
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Match the following figures or entities with their contributions or roles regarding Great Zimbabwe:
Match the following figures or entities with their contributions or roles regarding Great Zimbabwe:
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Great Zimbabwe's history is primarily derived from written documents.
Great Zimbabwe's history is primarily derived from written documents.
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What do the famous carvings associated with Great Zimbabwe depict?
What do the famous carvings associated with Great Zimbabwe depict?
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Who concluded that the ruins of Great Zimbabwe were built by local African Bantu peoples?
Who concluded that the ruins of Great Zimbabwe were built by local African Bantu peoples?
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Great Zimbabwe's architecture is considered unparalleled elsewhere in Africa only.
Great Zimbabwe's architecture is considered unparalleled elsewhere in Africa only.
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What does the name 'Zimbabwe' mean in the language of its builders' descendants?
What does the name 'Zimbabwe' mean in the language of its builders' descendants?
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Great Zimbabwe was the heart of an extensive commercial and trading network due to its position on the route between the gold producing regions and ___.
Great Zimbabwe was the heart of an extensive commercial and trading network due to its position on the route between the gold producing regions and ___.
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Match the following architectural zones of Great Zimbabwe with their primary features:
Match the following architectural zones of Great Zimbabwe with their primary features:
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What type of natural resources were abundant around Great Zimbabwe, contributing to its wealth?
What type of natural resources were abundant around Great Zimbabwe, contributing to its wealth?
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The Great Enclosure has sharp angles in its wall design.
The Great Enclosure has sharp angles in its wall design.
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What was the hypothesized reason for the decline of trading activity in Great Zimbabwe around the mid-15th century?
What was the hypothesized reason for the decline of trading activity in Great Zimbabwe around the mid-15th century?
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The lower parts of buildings in Great Zimbabwe were constructed using ____ rocks that were heated and then cracked with cold water.
The lower parts of buildings in Great Zimbabwe were constructed using ____ rocks that were heated and then cracked with cold water.
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Match the following explorers or archaeologists with their contributions related to Great Zimbabwe:
Match the following explorers or archaeologists with their contributions related to Great Zimbabwe:
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What is a notable feature of the Hill Complex in Great Zimbabwe?
What is a notable feature of the Hill Complex in Great Zimbabwe?
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The indigenous people believed that Great Zimbabwe was built by ancient Jewish tribes.
The indigenous people believed that Great Zimbabwe was built by ancient Jewish tribes.
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How many groups of buildings are there in Great Zimbabwe?
How many groups of buildings are there in Great Zimbabwe?
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The sophisticated architecture of Great Zimbabwe includes turrets, towers, and ___.
The sophisticated architecture of Great Zimbabwe includes turrets, towers, and ___.
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What was the primary trading item that Great Zimbabwe was known for?
What was the primary trading item that Great Zimbabwe was known for?
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Study Notes
Great Zimbabwe: An Ancient African City
- Rumours of a massive, stone fortress in the African jungle circulated in Europe in the 16th century, suggesting a sophisticated trading civilization.
- Portuguese sea captain, Viçente Pegado, documented a site in 1531, describing enormous stone structures without mortar, surrounded by hills with similar features (including a 12-fathom-high tower).
- Constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries over 722 hectares in modern Zimbabwe.
Construction and Design
- A vast, 80-hectare complex with 12 building groups spread across Mutirikwi valley – an "unparalleled" African architecture.
- Constructed using granite blocks, precisely cut and laid without mortar.
- Great Enclosure: a large, circular structure with a 250-meter outer wall, 11 meters high.
- Hill Complex: The oldest part, believed to be a spiritual and religious centre.
- Valley Complex: Houses, homes, and workplaces made from earth and mud.
Indigenous Inhabitants and Significance
- Estimated 18,000 people lived in the city at its peak, with only an elite few living in the stone enclosures.
- Trade in gold, ivory, copper, tin, cattle, and cowrie shells thrived. Foreign goods like glass, coins, and ceramics were imported.
- Trading activity diminished in the mid-15th century, potentially due to resource scarcity in the region.
European Misinterpretations and Colonial Influences
- European explorers like Karl Mauch falsely claimed the city was built by an ancient civilization.
- Mauch believed the site was an African replica of biblical palaces.
- European historians and colonizers incorrectly attributed the city's construction to the Portuguese, Arabs, or foreigners.
- Theories included it being built by a Jewish tribe or aliens, or that it was "a copy of Solomon's Temple".
- British archaeologist David Randall-MacIver and Gertrude Caton-Thompson correctly identified the constructions as having been built by local Bantu peoples.
- European treasure hunters plundered the site at the turn of the 20th century
- British colonial policies and treasure-hunters caused significant damage to the site
Preservation and Ongoing Challenges
- The Shona, descendants of the builders, called the city "Zimbabwe", meaning "big stone houses."
- Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, uncontrolled vegetation growth and invasive species like lantana threaten the site's stability.
- Attempts to preserve the site faced challenges due to damage from tourists, colonial practices and treasure-hunters, and reconstruction attempts by local Zimbabwean authorities.
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Description
Explore the fascinating history and architecture of Great Zimbabwe, a remarkable ancient civilization in Africa. Discover its unique construction techniques using granite blocks and learn about its various complexes, including the Great Enclosure and the Hill Complex. This quiz delves into the society that thrived between the 11th and 14th centuries.
