Economy of Great Zimbabwe's Inhabitants

The people of Great Zimbabwe (11th–15th centuries) sustained themselves through:

• Agriculture: Sorghum, millet, maize, beans; terracing and irrigation.
• Livestock: Cattle, goats, sheep—wealth and status symbols.
• Trade: Gold, ivory exchanged with Arab/Portuguese merchants for cloth, beads, tools. Strategic location on interior-coast routes.
• Crafts: Pottery (geometric designs), weaving, ironworking (tools, weapons).

This diversified economy supported a prosperous, urbanized society.