The Great Zimbabwe

On September 5, 1871 Karl Mauch discovered The Great Zimbabwe. Though he didn't know it at the time, and he did think that he found Ophir, the world soon found out that these magnificent ruins were made by native Africans, the descendants of the modern day Shona.

Temporal occupation of The Great Zimbabwe started around the 4 th century, but it wasn't until the 10 th or 11 th that the first permanent settlement started. The location of the Great Zimbabwe is ideal: moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall produces ample grass for livestock. Nearby there are mines for copper, iron, tin, and gold. These metals were used in trading among many places. Archeologist have dug up coins from the east African port of Kilwa, ceramic ware from China, glass beads from India, and pottery from Iran. This and other evidence show that The Great Zimbabwe were included in a large and complex trade route.

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