Did the people of the Mutapa state benefit from the expansion of the state?

• The expansion of the Mutapa state brought with it some benefits including:
• Trade items from the conquered lands.
• The people and chiefdoms of the conquered state paid tribute to the king who redistributed this wealth to the people during times of drought.
• The state obtained new land for cultivation.
• New mining concerns were found within the conquered lands.
• These minerals were traded with the Portuguese who came into contact with the Mutapa because of the size of the state.
• Gained more pastureland for their animals.
• Gained more hunting grounds which mean more ivory and meat.

However the expansion also had its own drawbacks including:

• The vast size of the state and paired with poor communication systems led to failure of the state as breakaway factions emerged.
• Some vassal chiefs rebelled against the Mutapa and refused to pay tribute.
• During succession disputes factions fought in civil wars as chiefs and sub-rulers chose sides.

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