(Hill Ruin), a granite hill covered with large boulders linked together with stone walls to form enclosures and narrow passages. About 106m below stood the elliptical Great Enclosure. There are mazes all around the Zimbabwe. The Great Zimbabwe was in decline when news of its existence reached the Portuguese. It is not known what happened to it or who built it.Sundanic Civilization: was made up of kingdoms of discrete local clusters. Organization within was that of a theocracy in which a priest-king and a host of advisers ruled. Tribute to the king was essential, and to this end, external trade was a monopoly.Ghana: Among the earliest of the Sundanic civilizations was the kingdom of Ghana. Originally built to satisfy north Africa's hunger for salt, Ghana later traded for copper, cotton, tools, and swords from Arab workers, horses from Barbary and Egypt, and kola nuts and slaves from the south. The rulers of Ghana grabbed huge sums through taxation and a monopoly on trade. They were known for their extravagance as they squandered their wealth. Berber invasions weakened their kingdom and forced assimilation to the Muslim religion. Ghana eventually fell to the Tekrur from the north.Empire of Mali: After the Tekrur took over Ghana, Ghana split into several states and many of them freed themselves from oppression. The Mandinka were well-known traders and cultivators. In the thirteenth century, they established the Empire of Mali, which lasted for about 200 years. Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to modern day Nigeria. The Mali Empire boasted schools of theology and law that gained recognition throughout the Muslim world. However, the Mali Empire was unfortunately captured by the Songhai Empire.Songhai Empire: In 1375, the Songhai rulers of the city state of Gao rebelled, and after 1464 conquered Mali and endured for a century as it stretched its control across the middle Niger.Dhows: were ancient sailing vessels of 80 tones brought elephant...
