Lecture 15: Great Zimbabwe (part 2)

the hill complex was built [before/after] the valley complex and the grand enclosure

before

how were political roles determined?

lineage (hereditary)

true or false: material culture was associated with political status (a lot of material = higher in power)

false: they weren’t related, you could be poor and still be a ruler

what did marriage outside of lineage allow?

fluctuation: could move between classes

identify the sections (great enclosure, hill complex, valley complex)

what was the purpose of the walls around the hill complex?

symbolic of authority and power (not defensive!)

true or false: everyone lived in a

daga houses (mud houses), elite or commoners

true

how was the entrance to the great enclosure restricted?

narrow passageways, doors

residences were first built in the [great enclosure/hill complex] and the moved to the [great enclosure/hill complex]

first hill complex, then moved down to great enclosure

true or false: new built new enclosures towards the centre

true: new ruler = new enclosure

true or false: there were some artifacts differences between hill complex and great enclosure

false: same objects were founds

what are some features of the hill complex? (4)

• eastern and western parts: were built at different times

• lot of small passages: restrict people so that they can’t move easily

• slope and terraces to control ericsson and agriculture

• stone platforms with monuments

how and why did we separate the hill complex?

• how: with narrow passageways

• why: symbolic (you move from commoners to elite, transition)

what’s the most notable feature from the eastern enclosure?

soapstone birds

what do the soapstone birds represent?

african eagle: power and sacred dimension

why were the soapstone birds made out of soapstone? (2)

• easier to carve

• soapstone maybe had a ritual value

true or false: we believe that there were 8 soapstone birds arranged in circle

true: they circled an altar

true or false: the king’s wife lived in the eastern complex (on top) while he lived in the western complex (at the bottom)

false: the complexes weren’t used at the same time

describe the interior passage of the great enclosure

• double walled (walls on both side) that restricted the area

• present in hill complex and great enclosure

• symbolic: transition from elite to commoner

describe the conical tower

• more accessible than other buildings in great enclosure

• had a granary to store elite’s grains and plants

• used to organize feast (shows that people shared meals together)

true or false: in other valley complexes, daga houses were entirely enclosed by stone walls. no access were possible

false: they were partially enclosed (half closed and half open)

what were the maund runs and what did we figure out with them?

• found by Thompson: part of the lower valley that wasn’t excavated yet

• she looked at what she believed were empty spaces but no! were actually houses muds

• concluded that houses were circular AND that shona people shared objects equally (elite had same thing as commoners)

what were some long distance trade objects found? (4)

• beads (india)

• porcelain (persia, china)

• glass (mediterranean)

• earthenware (china, ming dynasty)

how could Great Zimbabwe trade with other countries, like india?

because they were close to the indian ocean

against what would people trade gold? under what form the gold would be?

• objects that come from far away

• in nuggets (not processed)

true or false: we had gold crafting specialists at Great Zimbabwe

false: they were skilled, but not professionals, still small scale and not full time

true or false: people would only use gold as trading methods

false: gold was also shaped to use as decoration

[cooper/gold/iron] and [cooper/gold/iron] were used for wealth items while [cooper/gold/iron] was used for non wealth items

• cooper and gold = wealth, decoration

• iron = non wealth (knife, arrows)

true or false: soapbirds were produced locally

true: skilled labour (birds had a lot of details)

true or false: gold and soapstone birds were found all around Great Zimbabwe

false: gold was, but soapstone birds were only found inside the walled area

what are the proofs that status wasn’t linked with material culture? (3)

• objects were made for both royals and commoners

• house designs were identical

• commoners and royals ate the same animals

what was only found inside the walled areas? (2)

soapstone birds and imported goods

→ small inequality, strongly egalitarian

true or false: both elite and commoners were involved in metallurgy and pottery

true: it was found inside and outside the walls

what do we mean when we say that people lived autonomously?

houses worked together to produce their own craft

true or false: people living in Great Zimbabwe had a lot of agency (could do what they wanted)

true: egalitarian

true or false: we performed sacrifices at Great Zimbabwe

false: no proof

explain the idea that the unwalled area would have been occupied only before the decline of Great Zimbabwe

• people would have first lived in the great enclosure, but needed kore space

• started to live outside because they needed more space, not because of a status difference