Great Zimbabwe

In this episode of our season-long “Ancient Civilizations” tour, we’ll explore Great Zimbabwe, a powerful medieval city-state in southern Africa that rose to prominence through agriculture, cattle wealth, and long-distance trade. Discover how the Shona people built an advanced society supported by gold production and regional trade networks that connected them to the Indian Ocean world, how merchants exchanged goods with civilizations across Africa, the Middle East, India, and China, and how cultural diffusion shaped life in this thriving urban center. From the impressive stone architecture of Great Zimbabwe to its role as a hub of commerce and political power, we’ll uncover the achievements and influence of this remarkable civilization.