 | |||||||||||||
| The Great Zimbabwe ruins are a prime example of pre-colonial African civilisation | . | ||||||||||||
Located in the lowveld outside of Masvingo, in the southeastern part of Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe
was established between the eleventh and fifteenth century by early
Shona people. Built mostly from granite blocks, the 800-hectare
settlement was divided into three areas: the Hill Ruins, the Great Enclosure, and the Great Valley.
Each of the of the areas was occupied by a different part of the
population and the hills are considered to have been a royal city. Due
to its well-organised structure, the city soon became a powerhouse,
trading with countries across the globe during the Middle Ages (Persian
and Chinese artifacts dating back to the fifteenth century have been
found in the area). However, by the nineteenth century, Great Zimbabwe
had been abandoned.
Why you should visit Great Zimbabwe
The architecture, artifacts and ruins in Great Zimbabwe tell a story
of a bygone-era in Zimbabwe. If you are interested in piecing together
Southern African history, the ruins are a great place to start.
Comments
Post a Comment