Latest / Great Zimbabwe: The Lost African Kingdom of Stone — Fexingo History
Great Zimbabwe's Gold Monopoly and Indian Ocean Trade
While previous episodes explored the architectural genius of the vavaki and the spiritual weight of the mhondoro, this episode uncovers the economic engine that built these stone walls: the gold trade. We trace how the rulers of Great Zimbabwe maintained a tight monopoly on the region’s gold, channeling it through the port of Sofala to Swahili merchants who then connected with markets as far away as China and India. Lucas details the specific mechanisms of this exchange, including the use of cowrie shells as currency and the diplomatic letters sent by Mwene Mutapa to distant powers. Luna…
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