By: Henrik, Liana, Jonathan, Nicole Great Zimbabwe By: Henrik, Liana, Jonathan, Nicole

Geography of Zimbabwe Location: Between South Africa, and Zambia Coastline is landlocked Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season Natural Hazards: recurring droughts, floods, and server storms are rare Zimbabwe is slightly larger than Montana Victoria falls on a river, forms the worlds largest curtain of falling water Stone ruins

Between South Africa and Zambia Stone ruins in Zimbabwe are still standing today. Farmers have worn out soil. Most poor families herd cattle and was an important form of wealth.

Trade With an economy based on cattle husbandry, crop cultivation, and the trade of gold on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Traders in Great Zimbabwe trade elephant tusk, gold, and salt. Great Zimbabwe was the heart of thriving trade empire from the 11 to the 15 centuries. In Great Zimbabwe cattle was more variable then gold.

FARMING Large scale commercial farming accounts for cash crops like tobacco, cotton, sugar, tea, coffee, etc. The economy was centered on farming. They raised cattle, goats, and sheep on their farms in Great Zimbabwe. Pre colonial Zimbabwe socities large and small were mainly farming communities.

CLOTHING AND FOOD A major grain in ancient Zimbabwe was maize Grains were grinded and turned into porridge and eaten with green vegetables or meat They had a wide range of green vegetables Other foods and drinks consisted of water, milk, boiled or roasted ground nuts, boiled or roasted maize, fruits, termites, and caterpillars Traditional clothing for women was a dress with many large beads on it Traditional clothing for men was a breastplate worn around the neck made of animal skin. This was also called an Iporyana`

SHELTER AND FAMILY LIFE The rich lived in a large enclosure of stone walls Buildings were heavy granite blocks stacked tightly together The poor lived in mud huts outside of the walls They got their granite by applying very hot water to the rock and digging it up until it is cool The homes of the rich people were huts inside the stone walls

Religion The people of Great Zimbabwe were monotheistic. The city Soapstone birds The people of Great Zimbabwe were monotheistic. They believed in a god named Mwari, and he was the creator of all life. The acropolis (hill) was the spiritual and religious center of the city. The people visited the acropolis to ask Mwari for help or send them him their thanks. Mhondora was the tribal spirit. He mad rainfalls and other natural occurrences like droughts. In many places throughout the city, soapstone statues of falcon-like birds can be found. They are also on the flag of Zimbabwe. These birds were sacred to the people of Great Zimbabwe. Sacred figure

Leadership/Rule/Government There was one king who lived in a palace in the center of the city Great Zimbabwe was an empire, not a republic or democracy. Besides the king, there were different chiefs that ruled smaller parts of the empire. The first person to rule Great Zimbabwe was Chigwago Rusvingo. The great walls surrounding the city were not for protection. They were there to show the king’s great power. There were two social classes: the poor farmers who lived outside the city walls and the rich trade controllers who lived inside the walls. The chief and his wife

SLIDES SLIDES 2 AND 3- NICLOE SLIDES 4 AND 5- JON SLIDES 6 AND 7- HENRIK SLIDES 8 AND 9- LIANA