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Early African kingdoms

Early African kingdoms: Mapungubwe, Great Zimbabwe and Mali, and how we know about them. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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On the map

MaliGreat ZimbabweMapungubwe
Mali in the west, Great Zimbabwe and Mapungubwe in the south.
  • We know about Mapungubwe from archaeological excavations, because the people did not write. Chinese pottery and glass beads from far away show that Mapungubwe was part of an Indian Ocean trade network that reached as far as China, through Swahili and Arab traders on the coast.
  • The rivers flooded and left rich soil. Climate and shifting trade routes contributed to the decline.
  • Thulamela is a stone-walled site in the Kruger Park. A trade route across the sea is a maritime route.
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Mali

Sundiata Keita founded Mali. Mansa Musa divided the large empire into provinces with governors and built mosques to spread Islam and learning, such as the Great (Djinguereber) Mosque in Timbuktu, built of mud brick and now part of a World Heritage Site. Leo Africanus, who visited around 1510 when Songhai ruled Timbuktu, wrote an eyewitness account of the city; but an eyewitness sees only part and may be biased.

The stone walls of Great Zimbabwe.
The stone walls of Great Zimbabwe.
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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Mapungubwe lies where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet; it was strongest about 800 years ago.
  • Trade in gold, ivory and hides with the Indian Ocean world, India and China; in return glass beads and Chinese pottery.
  • Leaders on the hilltop to show their status: a stratified society (clear classes). Cattle and gold were status symbols.
  • Great Zimbabwe (linked to the Shona) led next: granite walls without mortar.
  • These kingdoms show rich states existed before Europeans arrived.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

South to north through time: Mapungubwe → Great Zimbabwe → Mutapa, like a baton in a relay.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

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