Political Life of Great Zimbabwe and Kilwa

Kilwa Kisiwani was ruled by sultans. The sultans ruled in large 100 room palaces. Although Kilwa was a great and powerful city-state it was like the other city-states as it did not have or need an ordered political system because the Sultan could rule over the entire small nation. The rulers of Kilwa wanted to build up Kilwa's wealth and their own personal reputation. Ali-ibn al-Hasan was one of the first major sultans to build up trading networks and make Kilwa an important location for goods. He also built one of Kilwa's first mosques. Husuni Kubwa was significant in being one of the first Sultans to build his own personal place.

Since all of the people in Great Zimbabwe were of the same nationality and race there was no slavery. There were smaller settlements outside of Great Zimbabwe that were ruled by the Kings appointed officials. There is obviously political order within the nation by seeing how the king has split up leadership of his kingdom. The Great Inclosure built up by several generations of kings was where the royal family lived and were not disturbed by anyone. In terms of how their society was organized little is known or found on the status or class system of the people living there. Like many other nations around it, Great Zimbabwe was believed to have been organized with many rulers of the provinces.

A king of Great Zimbabwe 👇