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Great Zimbabwe's Copper Cross Currency and Indian Ocean Trade
In Episode 59 of Great Zimbabwe: The Lost African Kingdom of Stone, Lucas and Luna explore the copper cross currency that powered Great Zimbabwe's economy. While gold and cattle are often highlighted, copper crosses—cast in a distinctive cruciform shape—were the standardized medium of exchange for everyday trade and long-distance commerce. Lucas explains how these crosses were mined in the northern Zambezi region, smelted by vaShona metalworkers, and stamped with marks of the Mambo's authority. They were traded for glass beads, porcelain, and cloth from the Swahili Coast and as far…
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