Population and settlement
This image shows where Great Zimbabwe would have been compared to the rivers and compared to major cities. This is important because there would have to be a sustainable water supply in order to support a civilization.
The first people to have been known to settle in what is now known as the country of Zimbabwe were the Shona people in 400 C.E. During the rule of the Shona people they established Great Zimbabwe, a city that became a renowned trading center. Great Zimbabwe was a city made out stone and is today an important archeological site. Zimbabwe is a Shona word meaning stone enclosure or stone house, which was the perfect name for Great Zimbabwe, considering it was made out of stone, and is the origin of the country’s name.
The Shona people actually consist of many different people with different languages, cultures, and beliefs; because of their similarities they all have been categorized together under Shona which was originally a term of insult. The actual origin of the Shona people is not exactly known today because of the many diverse groups that make up the Shona people. By the 10th century, the Shona became the greatest inhabitants between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.
The geography of Zimbabwe is on a high plateau and the terrain is primarily of grasslands bordered by mountains on the east. Zimbabwe is slightly larger than Montana and is always landlocked with three major rivers running through it; Zambezi, Save, and Runde River. Zimbabwe has a tropical climate that is moderated by altitude. The temperatures in Zambabwe would range from low 90s to low 40s. The natural resources of Zimbabwe are gold, iron, copper, and tin. Settlement in Zambabwe was easy for the Shona people because of all of the possibilities the land had to offer, making that more ideal for a more complex society to emerge.
The Shona people actually consist of many different people with different languages, cultures, and beliefs; because of their similarities they all have been categorized together under Shona which was originally a term of insult. The actual origin of the Shona people is not exactly known today because of the many diverse groups that make up the Shona people. By the 10th century, the Shona became the greatest inhabitants between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.
The geography of Zimbabwe is on a high plateau and the terrain is primarily of grasslands bordered by mountains on the east. Zimbabwe is slightly larger than Montana and is always landlocked with three major rivers running through it; Zambezi, Save, and Runde River. Zimbabwe has a tropical climate that is moderated by altitude. The temperatures in Zambabwe would range from low 90s to low 40s. The natural resources of Zimbabwe are gold, iron, copper, and tin. Settlement in Zambabwe was easy for the Shona people because of all of the possibilities the land had to offer, making that more ideal for a more complex society to emerge.
GLOBE data (21 June, 2007). Topography of Zimbabwe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zimbabwe_Topography.png.
The African Guide. Zimbabwe Climate.http://www.africaguide.com/country/zimbab/info.htm.
The African Guide. Zimbabwe Climate.http://www.africaguide.com/country/zimbab/info.htm.
These two images show the topography of Zimbabwe and the average climate throughout the year of Harare giving you an idea why it may be ideal for settlers.
The reasons that people would have been drawn to what is now known as Zimbabwe would have been because of the flat plains of fertile soil which would have been perfect for grazing and farming, the climate is perfect for adapting their seeds and their domesticated animals, and because of the mineral resources it made it ideal for trading. Zambabwe was an ideal location for settling especially since Great Zambabwe was settled by the river M River. All of the factors that led the Shonas to settle where they did accurately falls in line with the theory of Jared Diamond's, author of the book Guns, Germs, and Steel. Diamond's theory was that the only reason people settled in certain areas was because of the resources that the land provided; the Shona people settled where they did because of the resources that Zimbabwe provided. Once Great Zambabwe became a renowned trading center it soon fell due to low soil quality and fertility causing people to migrate elsewhere in mid-15th century.
The first Europeans to explore Southern Africa were the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Portuguese did attempt to colonize but were unsuccessful due to the campaigns that were laid against them by the in an attempt to keep Great Zambabwe independent. It was during the 1800s that Europeans began to have a great influence in the area especially the British South African Company (BSAC). The BSAC also encouraged immigration of white settlement with promise of gold but once this is not proved to be an overstatement, settlers were encouraged to become farmers.
Through the prosperity of the land Zambabwe has now become a place of many inhabitants. Zambabwe inhabitants are 98 percent African (82 percent Shona, 14 percent Ndebele, 2 percent other), 1 percent mixed or Asian, and less than 1 percent white. The official language is English with Shona being another major language spoken. The religion is syncretic (part Christian and part indigenous beliefs). Zambabwe is a diverse country with a long history of settlers that were just as diverse.
The first Europeans to explore Southern Africa were the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Portuguese did attempt to colonize but were unsuccessful due to the campaigns that were laid against them by the in an attempt to keep Great Zambabwe independent. It was during the 1800s that Europeans began to have a great influence in the area especially the British South African Company (BSAC). The BSAC also encouraged immigration of white settlement with promise of gold but once this is not proved to be an overstatement, settlers were encouraged to become farmers.
Through the prosperity of the land Zambabwe has now become a place of many inhabitants. Zambabwe inhabitants are 98 percent African (82 percent Shona, 14 percent Ndebele, 2 percent other), 1 percent mixed or Asian, and less than 1 percent white. The official language is English with Shona being another major language spoken. The religion is syncretic (part Christian and part indigenous beliefs). Zambabwe is a diverse country with a long history of settlers that were just as diverse.
additional resources
The World Heritage Convention gives, in great detail, information about the Great Zimbabwe national park.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/364
The World FactBook gives information about Zimbabwe's people, history, and geography.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/364
The World FactBook gives information about Zimbabwe's people, history, and geography.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html
population
These two links have population pyramids of Zimbabwe, in the first link it is a population pyramid of Zimbabwe in 2010 and in the second link it is a population pyramid of Zimbabwe in 1980. Within only 30 years the population has increased 6,000,000. Within 30 years the population almost doubled.
Link to this graph: http://populationpyramid.net/zimbabwe/
Link to this graph: http://populationpyramid.net/zimbabwe/1980/
Link to this graph: http://populationpyramid.net/zimbabwe/
Link to this graph: http://populationpyramid.net/zimbabwe/1980/
Additional Statistics
Economy
Unemployment: 95% Unemployment compared to the world: 202, 80%
Energy
Electricity Consumption: 12.57 Billion kWh Electricity consumption compared to the world: 85
Communications
Mobile cellular: 12.614 Mobile cellular compared to the world: 69
Transportation
Total Roadways:97,267 km Total roadways compared to the world: 47
Military
Military expenditures: 2.94% of GDP Military expenditures compared to the world: 21
Unemployment: 95% Unemployment compared to the world: 202, 80%
Energy
Electricity Consumption: 12.57 Billion kWh Electricity consumption compared to the world: 85
Communications
Mobile cellular: 12.614 Mobile cellular compared to the world: 69
Transportation
Total Roadways:97,267 km Total roadways compared to the world: 47
Military
Military expenditures: 2.94% of GDP Military expenditures compared to the world: 21