About Karen Mukungurutse

She holds a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Social Work from Bindura University. She has a passion for helping others and has been involved in numerous academic and social projects.

January 2023

The structure of Great Zimbabwe:

By |2022-09-15T12:37:10+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Great Zimbabwe Ruins

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Great Zimbabwe state (Kingdom): The structure of Great Zimbabwe

  • The structure is found in south-east Zimbabwe near Masvingo
  • The Shona name for the ruins is Dzimbabwe (variations of the name include Dzimbahwe, Zimboa/Symbaoe[Portuguese sources])
  • The names means ‘houses of stone’ or ‘house of stone’
  • It was […]
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Religious Organization of the Mutapa State

By |2022-09-15T12:37:18+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Some people still practice the African Religion of the Mutapa state.

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: The Mutapa Kingdom:Religious Organization of the Mutapa State

  • The Munhumutapa was the supreme leader and the religious leader of the Mutapa people.
  • He had the ultimate religious powers.
  • Evidence from oral tradition argues that the Munhumutapa […]
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Political Organisation of the Great Zimbabwe State

By |2022-09-15T12:37:09+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

A view inside the Great Enclosure. Image credit zarnet.ac.zw

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Great Zimbabwe state (Kingdom): Political Organisation of the Great Zimbabwe State

  • The king ruled the state and was helped to rule by his relatives,
  • the Great wives and others selected for exhibiting high levels of allegiance and loyalty

    • […]

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Social organisation of the Great Zimbabwe State

By |2022-09-15T12:37:08+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

The Zimbabwe Bird. Image credit MediaWiki

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Great Zimbabwe state (Kingdom): Social organisation of the Great Zimbabwe State

  • During its first stages of development, the state was egalitarian
  • However with population growth and expansion social classes emerged with the ruling classes exploiting the lower classes
  • The ruling class […]
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Religous organisation of the Great Zimbabwe State

By |2022-09-15T12:37:08+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Soapstone carvings of the Zimbabwe bird. Image credit iisd.ca

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Great Zimbabwe state (Kingdom): Religous organisation of the Great Zimbabwe State

  • The Great Zimbabwe people were very religious
  • Spirit mediums of the state were chosen from any class and this fostered unity among the people
  • The Hungwe bird […]
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Trade in the Mutapa State

By |2022-09-15T12:37:07+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Gold is one of the items traded in Mutapa kingdom. Image credit idolator.com

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: The Mutapa State (Kingdom): Trade in the Mutapa State

  • Three types of trade were done in the Mutapa state
  • That is, internal trade with the locals,
  • inter-regional trade with other states like the Ndebele […]
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Importance and effects of foreign trade in the Mutapa state

By |2022-09-15T12:37:07+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Ivory Trade was part of the Foreign Trade in Mutapa State. Image credit watchdog.co.ug

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: The Mutapa State (Kingdom): Importance and effects of foreign trade in the Mutapa state

  • Trade played an important role in the Mutapa State

Importance of Trade in the Mutapa Kingdom

  • The cloths and beads […]
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Military of the Mutapa Organisation of the Mutapa State

By |2022-09-15T12:37:06+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

African Spear. Image credit swordsantiqueweapons.com

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: The Mutapa State (Kingdom): Military of the Mutapa Organisation of the Mutapa State

  • The Mutapa did not have a standing army
  • The army was mobilized from peasants when there was an emergency
  • The war council in the Mutapa state was known as […]
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Crisis in Nguniland: Introduction

By |2022-09-15T12:37:06+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

A Zulu regiment in a film. Image credit pininterest.com

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Crisis in Nguniland: Introduction

  • The group of Bantu speaking people who lived in the Southern-Eastern region of Southern Africa were called the Nguni
  • Nguniland was divided into three groups namely, the Zulu or Northern Kingdom, Xhosa and the […]
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The Mfecane

By |2022-09-15T12:37:06+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

The Zulu Army modern reenactment. Image credit britishempire.co.uk

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Crisis in Nguniland: The Mfecane

  • It means a time of crushing
  • It was also given a Sesotho name called Difaqane or Lifaqane
  • It was a time of widespread warfare and disorder indigenous groups in Southern Africa from about 1815 […]
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