The capital probably reached its height about 1300. By then, it had tapped nearby gold resources and created profitable commercial links with coastal cities such as Sofala. Archaeologists have found beads from India and porcelain from China, showing that Great Zimbabwe was part of a trade network that reached across the Indian Ocean. In addition, they have found artifacts that indicate that Great Zimbabwe had artisans skilled in making jewelry and weaving cotton cloth.

Very little is known about the government in Great Zimbabwe. However, after studying the architecture and artifacts of the ruins, some scholars have suggested that the ruler was a god-king who presided over a large court. Below the king, a central bureaucracy may have ruled an inner ring of provinces, while appointed governors had authority in more distant villages. Although there is much about Great Zimbabwe that remains unknown, as archaeologists continue their research, we are learning more about how the capital and empire developed.

Zimbabwe Declines

By 1500, Zimbabwe was in decline. Some scholars suggest that the population had grown too great. Civil war and dwindling trade probably contributed as well.

By then, Portuguese traders were pushing inland to find the region's source of gold. They failed to discover the gold mines, but their attempts further weakened the small states that formed in the region as Zimbabwe declined. Some scholars believe that the environment also played a role in Great Zimbabwe's decline. Overgrazing and drought on the Zimbabwe Plateau, coupled with a decline in land productivity, may have eventually led to famine.

These figurines were crafted by artisans of Great Zimbabwe and show the wealth of detail in that advanced society.

Assessment

1. Synthesize How did geography and religion influence Ethiopia's development?
2. Infer How did the Swahili language affect trade in the East African city-states?
3. Test Conclusions What does archeological evidence suggest about Great Zimbabwe's economy?
4. Identify Central Ideas How did religion and trade affect the development of East Africa?
5. Identify Cause and Effect What role did religion play in the rise and decline of Axum?

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