analyse the extent of development of african civilization in the iron age states of zimbabwe with references to afrocentric and eurocentric views
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Answer:
Explanation:
Africa.
Iron Age
The Iron Age did not occur homogeneously around the world, as different people learned to smelt iron at different points in history related to their level of sophistication. For example, In Europe iron working became prevalent only in the 1700s of the common era. However, on the continent of Africa, particularly in East Africa, ironworking began in the 500s before the common era. The first groups of Africans who learned to smelt iron were the Bantu speaking peoples of southern Africa. They travelled throughout continent delivering their knowledge to others.
These early ironworkers also established kingdoms, as agriculture and animal domestication led to the establishment of civilizations. One of these kingdoms, of Bantu origination, was that of Great Zimbabwe.
Great Zimbabwe
If you travel east of the Kalahari Desert and search between the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers, you will find the ruins of what was once Great Zimbabwe. This city rose during Africa's Iron Age. The name Zimbabwe comes from the Shona people, who were descendants of the original Bantu inhabitants of the region.
Its name translated in Shona means 'stone building'. It can also mean 'venerated house' due to the fact that the royal family lived in the ruins of what once was Great Zimbabwe. This may also be due to the fact that the early Shona people could have seen Great Zimbabwe as a holy site devoted to their patron god called Mwari.
Great Zimbabwe was built around the 1100s CE. Much of what is left is called the Great Enclosure which is noted for its high walls built of stone. This is where the royal family lived along with their court of advisers. The entire population numbered around 20,000 people, but only around 200 to 300 people of nobility and/or stature lived in the Great Enclosure.
The extent of development of African civilization in iron age state of Zimbabwe with reference to the afrocentric and eurocentric views are mentioned below:
- From britain and Germany the European travels to learn powerful African civilization of southern Africa interior.
- Here, construction of great Zimbabwe begins in 11th century and lasts upto 15th century.
- In 1890, a large portion of southern Africa was conquered by British imperialist and colonizer Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) and foreigners build the monuments of great Zimbabwe.
- Southern and Northern Rhodesia were named as modern Zambia and Zimbabwe which came under control of British.
- The items proves that civilization is not build up by local Africans which are present in Great Zimbabwe complex.