Kongo, Mwene Mutapa, and Zambezi

Time Period: 13th Century

Significant Events During Time Period: Rise of the empire of Mali, Death of Sundiata, earliest stone buildings at Zimbabwe, Lalibela rules in Ethiopia, Yoruba culture flourishes at Ile-Ife

Society 1: Kongo

Society 2: Mwene Mutapa

Society 3: Zambezi

Characteristics of Society 1 (Kongo):

Political: kingship was hereditary. Had local chiefs though.

Economic: slaves, agricultural, trade through harbors

Artistic: weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and carving

Religious: prayed to gods, ancestors

Military: tribes

Geographic: Seacoast, forests.

Demographic: 60,000 to 100,000 population

Women’s Status: pretty equal. Both men and women did very different types of work

Characteristics of Society 2: Mwene Mutapa

Political: power status if owned gold fields and cattle

Economic: trade

Artistic: jewelry, imported goods, glass beads, porcelain  

Religious: spirits and ancestors, bird of God

Geographic: trading ports at east-coast

Characteristics of Society 3: Zambezi

Political: authority with kingship

Economic: trade

Artistic: traded goods

Religious: ancestors, spirits

Geographic: Savanna and Plains with rivers, grasslands

Demographic: warriors and cattle-herders

Similarities and Differences: All three kingdoms are near the Great Zimbabwe. They are all run by kings, but Kongo also had different chiefs. The chiefs acted like the governors of the tribes. They were all based around trade and had artisans making things to trade with. The religious views were all ancestral and based on different gods and spirits. They were all based near some sort of water source. Mwene Mutapa made bracelets from gold and silver to trade.

Societal Comparison by Kylie W