Great Zimbabwe

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Description

The Victorian explorer who discovered the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, with its high, sweeping walls and complex passageways, had no idea who could have built it. The vast stone city remained at the center of debate for decades. In this program art historian Gus Casely-Hayford pieces together the story of the African empire and how it was linked to surrounding kingdoms as part of a medieval gold trade flowing from Great Zimbabwe's towers to the Swahili Coast and on as far as China. He examines linguistic and archaeological evidence of the trade by visiting key sites along the route, including Mapungubwe, Manyikeni, and the Great Mosque of Kilwa. Casely-Hayford is guided on his trek by Great Zimbabwe's modern heirs, who honor their history by keeping artistic and spiritual traditions alive.