Historians think that the Mapungubwe kingdom was the first great kingdom in southern Africa. The ruins of Mapungubwe show that even a thousand years ago, long before trade with Arabia was established, gold was prized and traded—and much less expensive. Without traders to drive up the price, the average citizen of Mapungubwe could afford to own many gold items, both in this world and the next. Learn more by putting these items in the correct order.
|
Clay pots filled with gold and glass beads have also been found in graves.
People were buried wearing gold jewelry.
Mapungubwe rose in the 11th century CE.
The people were buried sitting up, facing west.
Mapungubwe fell in the 13th century, its people may have moved North to Great Zimbabwe.
Its kings lived atop sheer cliffs, while the people lived below.
|
|
reat job! You put all the items in the right order.
Try again—the items marked with an X are in the wrong order.
Question
What does a strategy game found at Mapungubwe say about its possible connection to other African kingdoms?
A similar ancient game was played in West Africa, suggesting that Mapungubwe was not isolated, but had some ties to other areas of Africa--enough of a connection, anyway, to share the rules of a game.
Question
What is Mapungubwe's connection to the kingdom of Great Zimbabwe?
Archeologists believe that people from Mapungubwe traveled north and founded Great Zimbabwe as their civilization began to decline.
