Overview

The Changamire Empire was founded by Karanga people called the Rozwi in the late 1400's. The city of Zimbabwe served as the capital city of the Changamire Empire. The word zimbabwe means house of stone. The Changamire Empire was prosperous and peaceful until Nguni people from the south defeated much of the empire in the 1830's. The city of Zimbabwe was abandoned after the fall of the empire.

The great city's ruins now lie near Masvingo. They include a tower 30 feet (9 meters) high and part of a wall 800 feet (240 meters) around. The structures were made of huge granite slabs, most of which were fitted together without mortar.