Geography & History
In which modern-day country is Great Zimbabwe located?
Zimbabwe.
Name one crop grown at Great Zimbabwe.
Millet or sorghum.
Name one valuable product traded by Great Zimbabwe
Gold or ivory
What is urbanisation?
The growth of towns and cities as people settle in them.
Around which year was Great Zimbabwe abandoned?
Around 1450 CE
Which type of stone was used to build its famous walls?
Granite
Which animals were an important source of wealth?
Cattle
Name one imported item found at the site
Glass beads or Chinese/Persian porcelain.
Why did people settle in Great Zimbabwe?
For farming, cattle rearing, trade, protection and opportunities.
Name one possible environmental cause of its decline.
Deforestation or pressure on farmland and natural resources.
During which century was Great Zimbabwe first settled?
The 11th century CE.
Name both major crops grown there
Millet and sorghum.
Which ocean was connected to its wider trade networks?
The Indian Ocean
Which city became important after Great Zimbabwe declined?
Khami
How could food shortages affect the city's population?
Food shortages could make it harder to support the population and encourage migration.
During which centuries was Great Zimbabwe especially important?
The 12th–15th centuries.
Besides providing food, how did cattle help the community?
Cattle provided food, wealth and social status, and could help with farming
How did trade help Great Zimbabwe grow?
Trade brought wealth, goods and connections with distant regions.
How can migration affect a city's importance?
Migration can reduce a city's population and importance or help another settlement grow.
Name one possible change in trade or politics that contributed to its decline.
Changes in trade routes, competition from other centres or political changes.
What made Great Zimbabwe an important political and cultural centre?
Its stone architecture, political power, trade and cultural importance.
Explain how farming and cattle together supported the city
Farming supplied food, while cattle supplied food and wealth and supported agricultural work
Explain how Great Zimbabwe connected with overseas trade
It traded products such as gold and ivory through networks linked to Indian Ocean ports and received imported goods.
Explain how urbanisation and migration were connected to its growth and decline.
People settled there as the city grew through farming and trade. Later, changing conditions encouraged people to move elsewhere, helping other centres gain importance
What lesson does Great Zimbabwe teach us about resources, trade and the environment?
Cities need sustainable resources and reliable food supplies and trade connections. Changes in these conditions can cause cities to grow, decline or lose population.