Great Zimbabwe was a medieval African city known for its large circular wall and tower. It is located in southeastern Zimbabwe, near Lake Mutirikwe and the town of Masvingo. The city was part of a wealthy African trading empire that controlled much of the East African coast from the 11th to the 15th centuries C.E. The word "Zimbabwe" means "stone houses" in Shona.
Great Zimbabwe was largely abandoned during the 15th century, and its stoneworking and pottery-making techniques seem to have transferred southward to Khami (now also in ruins). Portuguese explorers probably encountered the ruins in the 16th century, but it was not until the late 19th century that the existence of the ruins was confirmed, generating much archaeological research.
The stone city spans an area of 7.22 square kilometers (2.79 sq mi) and could have housed up to 18,000 people at its peak, giving it a population density of approximately 2,500 inhabitants per square kilometer (6,500/sq mi). It is estimated that the central ruins and surrounding valley supported a Shona population of 10,000 to 20,000. 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 first inhabitants of Great Zimbabwe were Shona-speaking peoples who likely settled in the region as early as 400 C.E. Back then, the land was full of possibilities: plains of fertile soil to support farming and herding, and mineral-rich territories to provide gold, iron, copper, and tin for trading and crafting. Over the years, descendants of the Shona made transitions from simple farming communities to more complex, stratified societies. By 1000 C.E., the population of Great Zimbabwe was divided and ranked by social class.
In summary, Great Zimbabwe was a medieval African city that was part of a wealthy African trading empire. It was largely abandoned during the 15th century and is now a national monument and a World Heritage site.
