January 2023

The economic activities of Great Zimbabwe

By |2022-09-15T12:41:36+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Iron age tools. Image credit ct.gov Iron age tools. Image credit ct.gov ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Great Zimbabwe: The economic activities of Great Zimbabwe

Economic activities carried out at Great Zimbabwe

  • The people at Great Zimbabwe engaged in a variety of economic activities including:
  • hunting
  • gathering
  • mining
  • the paying and receiving of tribute
  • pottery making
  • blacksmithing (ironworks)
  • trade […]
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Reasons for the rise of the Great Zimbabwe state

By |2022-09-15T12:41:36+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Cattle grazing. Image credit nature.org Cattle grazing. Image credit nature.org ZIMSEC History O Level Notes: Great Zimbabwe: Reasons for the rise of the Great Zimbabwe state

  • There are several reasons for the rise of the Great Zimbabwe state:
  • Rich soils- the availability of rich agricultural soils. The black and red soils around the Great […]
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Reasons for the Fall of the Great Zimbabwe State

By |2022-09-15T12:41:33+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

The Great Zimbabwe ruins. Image credit Afrizim.com The Great Zimbabwe ruins. Image credit Afrizim.com ZIMSEC History O Level Notes: The Great Zimbabwe State: Reasons for the Fall of the Great Zimbabwe State

There are several reasons why the Great Zimbabwe State/Kingdom fell viz:

  • Civil wars
  • The rise of ambitious leaders who oppressed the […]
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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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The purpose of the Great Zimbabwe structures

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

Great Zimbabwe ruins from a distance. Image credit africazim-travel.com

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: Great Zimbabwe state (Kingdom): The purpose of the Great Zimbabwe structures

  • The uses of the Great Zimbabwe structure has been the subject of much speculation
  • Some experts have tried to come up with a list of plausible uses […]
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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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Reasons for the building of Great Zimbabwe Walls

By |2022-09-15T12:41:37+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

The Great Zimbabwe Walls. Image credit MediaWiki The Great Zimbabwe Walls. Image credit MediaWiki ZIMSEC O Level History Notes:Great Zimbabwe: Reasons for the Building of the Great Zimbabwe Walls

  1. It was built as a trading center.
  2. It was a Religious center.
  3. It was a dwelling place (for the royal family).
  4. It was a symbol […]
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Social groups and crafts practised by the people at Great Zimbabwe

By |2022-09-15T12:41:37+02:00January 24th, 2023|Notes, O Level History Notes, Ordinary Level Notes|

Pottery was practised extensively at Great Zimbabwe. Image credit ghananation.com Pottery was practised extensively at Great Zimbabwe. Image credit ghananation.com ZIMSEC History O Level Notes: Great Zimbabwe: Social groups and Crafts practised at Great Zimbabwe

Social Groups found within the Great Zimbabwe State

  • fisherman
  • slaves
  • spirit mediums
  • The ruling class
  • miners
  • gatherers
  • sculptors (responsible for building the wall […]
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