NASS
The Mutapa State was established in the 15th century following the decline of the Great Zimbabwe State. The Mutapa state was located on the Northern part of modern day Zimbabwe. The kingdom of Mutapa is said to have stretched between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. According to oral tradition the first “mwene” was a warrior prince Nyatsimbamutota from Great Zimbabwe who was sent to find new sources of salt in the north. Prince Mutota found his salt among the Tavara. They were conquered because of the need to control agricultural land and resources mainly gold and ivory.
www.freedictionary.com defines rise as to attain higher rank, status or reputation. This implies that it is to move from a lower position to a higher one. www.macmilliandictionary.com defines decline as a gradual and continuous loss of strength, number, or value. This means becoming less or decrease.
The rise of the Mutapa was greatly due to the decline and abandonment of Great Zimbabwe due to shortages of food, pastures and natural resources in general. Mudenge S.I.G (1988:38) states that it is possible that civil wars, overpopulation around Great Zimbabwe, famine, plague, decreasing gold production may have led to the decline of this state. The fall of the Great Zimbabwe in the 15th century brought the rising of the northern state of Mutapa. However spoken tradition explains that Mutapa state rose when Nyatsimbamutota was sent by his father Chibatamatosi in search of salt. The methods of getting salt from reeds and from goat dung could no longer meet the needs of the population. However, on his way in search for salt he was attracted to by elephants, pastures and salt in the north. There was also access to trade in salt and other goods along the Zambezi valley river. According to Chigwedere A.S Mutota seemed to have been a dynamic and ambitious man. It appears that Mutota wanted something of his own, his own territory which would be ruled in his own name. Foreign trade with the east coast
www.freedictionary.com defines rise as to attain higher rank, status or reputation. This implies that it is to move from a lower position to a higher one. www.macmilliandictionary.com defines decline as a gradual and continuous loss of strength, number, or value. This means becoming less or decrease.
The rise of the Mutapa was greatly due to the decline and abandonment of Great Zimbabwe due to shortages of food, pastures and natural resources in general. Mudenge S.I.G (1988:38) states that it is possible that civil wars, overpopulation around Great Zimbabwe, famine, plague, decreasing gold production may have led to the decline of this state. The fall of the Great Zimbabwe in the 15th century brought the rising of the northern state of Mutapa. However spoken tradition explains that Mutapa state rose when Nyatsimbamutota was sent by his father Chibatamatosi in search of salt. The methods of getting salt from reeds and from goat dung could no longer meet the needs of the population. However, on his way in search for salt he was attracted to by elephants, pastures and salt in the north. There was also access to trade in salt and other goods along the Zambezi valley river. According to Chigwedere A.S Mutota seemed to have been a dynamic and ambitious man. It appears that Mutota wanted something of his own, his own territory which would be ruled in his own name. Foreign trade with the east coast
References: Birmingham, D. and Martin, P. (1983) History of Central Africa, USA: Longman Mudenge S.I.G (2011) A Political History of Munhumutapa c1400- 1902, Harare, African Publishing Group Chigwedere, A.S (1980) From Mutapa to Rhodes, Harare: Macmillan Wilson, D (1975) A History on South and Central Africa: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge Online sources www.gta.go.zw/index/history-of-zimbabwe/ accessed on 10. 10. 13