Zimbabwe the Past and the Present
Thought there is no surviving written history mentioning early Zimbabwe, the archeological record is clear. As early as fourth century AD a great civilization was beginning to form in the area known as the Great Zimbabwe, at first it was only a farming community but by the 11th century it was a massive walled city with advanced architecture and elaborate soap stone and ivory carvings. Among the ruins were such modern wonders as copper wire, copper ingots, iron tools and gold beads.
The 11 meter high stone wall surrounding Great Zimbabwe is an example of advanced stone work. Stone blocks fit tight enough to stand without mortar for many centuries. The wall still stands, 11 meters high for a distance of 820 meters. Another great structure is a 22 meter conical tower. There is evidence that the city was once inhabited by about 18,000 people and frequented by travelers as part of a trade route spanning perhaps as far as China. This thriving city was a great and forgotten wonder of the ancient world, inhabited by great kings, knowledgeable craftsmen and possibly astronomers and alchemists. There were obviously metallurgists and some scientific African minds, which were far advanced for their time. Today one can view the ruins of this great society. Much of it still stands, including the tower and the high walls of the enclosure.
The Great city of Zimbabwe represents only one of many great cities and civilizations which sprang up in Zimbabwe a little later in their history. In the early 17th century the Rozwi Empire fended off a Portuguese invasion. However in the 1890’s they were unable to fend off British forced colonization of their country. After the usual results of British Colonization, apartheid attitudes robbed natives of their land. By the time they gained independence in the late 1990’s one percent, the white percent owned 70 percent of the land. The solution was compulsory land redistribution which the UK, US and EU protested with sanctions, but where were they 100 years ago when the land was forcibly redistributed away from the natives of Zimbabwe.
Though economically devastated due to colonization and civil war, Zimbabwe is rebuilding. Just in the past two years, they have had two successful years of economic growth. Zimbabwe has a literacy rate of 92% which is extremely high. Still there are many problems. Deforestation and poaching have killed approximately 60% of the wildlife. Health care is a major problem for most citizens of Zimbabwe, and there are a few other shortages and inequitable distributions of resources which have plagued the country, but they are definitely on the road to economic recovery and making strides to improve their national difficulties.
Zimbabwe’s economy depends heavily on tourism, and a few years ago travel guides exaggerated the dangers of visiting Zimbabwe. However recently tourism has opened up again in Zimbabwe, and if one wants a lovely tour of the amazing continent of Africa. Zimbabwe is an amazing country to visit. There is still a great deal of wildlife and untamed wilderness to see. Zimbabwe is a lovely place to visit with many attractions of interest to American and European tourists.