Sofala's Role in Great Zimbabwe's Rise

The coastal city of Sofala (in modern Mozambique) was not a significant factor in Great Zimbabwe's growth. The kingdom's power stemmed from its control over gold, ivory, and other commodities sourced from the interior of southern Africa, traded via inland routes to the coast. Sofala was one of many Swahili coast ports, but Great Zimbabwe's wealth came from its command of the supply side, not dependency on a single port.