The Kingdom of Mapungubwe

STATES AND SOCITIES IN SUBSAHARAN AFRICA HIST 1301 | History The Kingdom of Mapungubwe Though their exact relationship is still up for debate, Mapungubwe, which flourished from the eleventh to the thirteenth century, is frequently seen as the beginning of Great Zimbabwe. It's been dubbed the first state in southern Africa. Around the eleventh century, a cattle-keeping society known as Leopard's Kopje gave rise to Mapungubwe. The inhabitants of Leopard's Kopje, in Zimbabwe, in modern-day Bulawayo, established a sophisticated mixed economy centred on agriculture, cattle husbandry, and herding in an area with comparatively abundant rainfall. Their empire, like other kingdoms in southern Africa, generated an abundance of food, which they exchanged for other products. Terracing the hillsides on the huge sandstone plateau's southern slopes to stop soil erosion was a distinctive aspect of their farming. One such location was Mapela Hill, where extensive hillside terracing with dry stone walls (devoid of mortar) for farming, defence, and habitation was constructed throughout the twelfth century. Large herds of cattle from the ninth century have been found in the area according to archaeological research. The discovery is indicative of the potential impact that the residents of Leopard's Kopje may have as cattle were historically the source of both wealth and political power in southern Africa. The tenth century saw a number of noteworthy developments in the economy, such as the advent of gold mining, the development of cotton farming and weaving (as evidenced by the discovery of spindles), and a notable increase in the number of livestock. Later Iron Age miners worked the rich gold-bearing rock of the western plateau very hard. Shafts that were narrow were lowered around ninety feet into the earth, following the path of seams. Iron wedges were used to break out the rock after it had been shattered by fire and water used alternately. It seems likely that forced labour made up the majority of this mining work, despite the fact that nothing is known about how it was organised and managed. The discovery of gold in the area sparked a thriving economy that included both domestic elite consumption and international trade. Beaten gold sheets are a special kind of gold decoration found exclusively in Great Zimbabwe and at Mapungubwe. The sheets, which are adorned with geometric designs, appear to have been used to cover wooden components, although the wood has long ago decayed. Beads, bangle bracelets, and animal figurines are among the many gold items discovered at the location. Even though Mapungubwe was located in the interior of southern Africa, it was a long-distance trader. Significant discoveries of animal skins and broken ivory suggest that these were being hoarded for commerce (elephants were common in the area). Trading was most likely to take place along the Limpopo River, which leads to the coastal regions and Sofala, one of the southernmost points on the Swahili coast. Additional discoveries, such as pieces of vividly coloured Indian fabric and Chinese celadon (green-glazed) ceramics, as well as glass beads from India, bolster this relationship with the Swahili coast and its maritime commerce with China, Arabia, and East Asia. Mapungubwe was unquestionably a centre for interregional commerce in southern Africa, even though it's probable that it served as a terminal for this kind of international trade. Since the Mapungubwean people did not leave written records, researchers may only infer social organisation from the site's physical remnants. It is believed that Mapungubwe was the first class-based social structure in southern Africa, with clear divisions between affluent kings and their peasants. District leaders occupied small hilltops on the outskirts of the capital, commoners lived in low-lying areas in mud and thatch dwellings, and the chief or king lived with his court in an imposing structure on top of Mapungubwe Hill, an impressive structure that measured 328 feet in length and 98 feet in height. A timber wall encircled the whole royal compound, and the women of the king resided in separate residences. By the end of the thirteenth century, Mapungubwe was in terminal decline. Though the exact reason is unknown, evidence points to a significant period of climatic change in the region during this time that produced several severe droughts. The ground drained and lost its fertility as a result of shifting weather patterns and unpredictable rainfall. The amount of pasture available for cattle decreased, and the area of agricultural fields that had previously sustained a sizable population reduced. Due to the lack of crops, the formerly plentiful farms were unable to sustain the same population, which resulted in overcrowding and resource shortages. The centre of mediaeval southern African culture moved northward around the start of the fourteenth century, giving rise to Great Zimbabwe, a new political entity. The term "stone buildings" (dzimba dzamabwe) in Bantu refers to the telltale signs of the debt due by the people of Zimbabwe to their southern Mapungubwean neighbours, who had a practice of constructing with stone.