What is Great Zimbabwe?
Q: What is Great Zimbabwe?
A: Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city in the south-eastern hills of Zimbabwe. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the country’s later Iron Age and covered an area of 722 hectares (1,780 acres).
Q: When did construction at Great Zimbabwe begin?
A: Construction at Great Zimbabwe began in the 11th century and continued until the 14th century.
Q: What were some features of Great Zimbabwe?
A: Some features of Great Zimbabwe included its walls, which were constructed without mortar and could be up to five metres high. The city also controlled trade between the coast and inland Africa.
Q: How many people might have lived at Greater Zimbabwe?
A: Up to 18,000 people may have lived at Greater Zimbabwe.
Q: Where was Greater Zimbabwe located geographically?
A: Greater Zimbawe was located near Mozambique in southeast Africa, with its kingdom including parts of Botswana, Transvaal, and River Zambezi in the north.
Q: Who first wrote about Great Zimbawe?
A: Vicente Pegado, Captain of the Portuguese garrison of Sofala, recorded it as Symbaoe in 1531 - making him one of earliest known written mentions about it.
Q: When did Europeans first visit Great Zimbawe?
A: Europeans first visited Great Zimbawe in late 19th century with investigations beginning in 1871.
