Kingdom of Zimbabwe

Kingdom of Zimbabwe was a state in Zambezi and Zimbabwe Plateau (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from c. 1220 to 1450 CE, about 230 years. Its people spoke Bantu languages (Kongo, Shona, Zulu, Swahili, Luba, Ganda).

Shona-speaking rulers built the dry-stone walls of Great Zimbabwe, home to perhaps 10,000 to 18,000 people, on the profits of the gold trade with Kilwa. The site was abandoned by about 1450 as power moved to Mutapa and Butua.

See Kingdom of Zimbabwe on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 1220 to 1450 CE

Duration

230 years

Type

State

Region

Zambezi and Zimbabwe Plateau, Central and Southern Africa

Language family

Bantu

Capital

Great Zimbabwe

Came from

• Kingdom of Mapungubwe c. 1075 to 1220 CE

Became

• Mutapa Empire c. 1430 to 1760 CE
• Kingdom of Butua c. 1450 to 1683 CE

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

• 1331 Ibn Battuta visits Kilwa
• 1350 Great Enclosure built at Great Zimbabwe

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE
• Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
• Kilwa Sultanate c. 957 to 1513 CE
• Bunyoro-Kitara c. 1400 to 1899 CE
• Mutapa Empire c. 1430 to 1760 CE
• Kingdom of Butua c. 1450 to 1683 CE
• Kingdom of Mapungubwe c. 1075 to 1220 CE
• Kingdom of Nkore (Ankole) c. 1450 to 1967 CE
• Kingdom of Karagwe c. 1450 to 1890 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe

Questions