1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology

What was Great Zimbabwe? During the 7th century AD, kingdoms grew up in a rich gold-mining area around the Zambezi River. In the eastern part (modern Zimbabwe and Mozambique), many stone-walled enclosures, or 'royal courts,' were built for the kings. They were called zimbabwes. The most famous is Great Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, built by the Shona people. Work began in the early 11th century and went on for some 400 years. The palace was surrounded by a huge stone wall. Outside, a city with a population of about 10,000 people developed. It is not known why the city was abandoned in the 15th century, but it may have been because the soil could no longer maintain the population. The high stone walls of Great Zimbabwe were decorated with posts carved with creatures.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: African Civilisation