mwanemutapa kingdom. "Master of conquered lands"

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Mwanemutapa kingdom was formed during the 14th and 16th centuries by the karanga people of the mashona land. The leader of the kingdom was known as  Mutota. 
Mutota grew powerful and conquered Tawara and Tonga of the Zambezi valley something that gave him the tittle; Mwanemutapa which means "Master of the conquered lands". 
 
Reasons for Mutota's expansion
1. The need to control gold and trade routes with East African coast.
2. The need for vast land for his people to farm and graze livestock.
3. Status. Mutota wanted to be recognized as a great leader who ruled many chiefs and their people.

Mutota died in 1450 and his son matope succeeded him. Matope managed to extend the kingdom from Zambezi to Limpopo and Kalahari to the Indian Ocean. 
After his his death in 1480, there were succession conflicts till 1490, when Changamire ascended to the throne, who led to the division of the kingdom.

The kingdom was torn into two;
1. The mwanemutapa. This included the northern areas of the country near the Zambezi.
 
2. The Changamire. It included the southern part and it was Independent part from Mwanemutapa. Its kings/Mambos took the tittle of Changamire, the founder of the state. This empire later on was given the name Urozwi or Rozwi. This part was powerful than Mwanemutapa because it was rich in gold. The headquarters of the empire was in Guruhuswa.

Factors for the rise and development of Mwanemutapa and Urozwi.
1. Trade in gold. Gold deposits were found at Manica and along the tributaries of river Zambezi. It was traded for goods like clothes, beads, daggers, porcelain, guns and  gunpowder from Arabs at Sofala and Kilwa.

2. Strong and ambitious leaders like Mutota who led the expansion to the weaker communities of Tonga and Tawara.

3. Agriculture. This ensured food supply, leading to the increase in population and growth of these states.

4. Strong army. The army was powerful enough, disciplined and well organized something that resulted to success in the conquest of weak communities.

5. Availability of natural resources like gold at Manica and Zambezi which led to accumulation of wealth.

The decline of the empire.
The empire began to fall in the 26th century because of the following reasons;
1. Internal disputes. There were wars of succession and conflicts over control of gold something that led to division and eventually fall of the kingdom.
2. The invasion by portuguese. The portuguese invaded and took control of the gold trade, which was the backbone of the empire.
3. Slave trade by the portuguese. They took many people and sold them in Brazil leading to the loss of manpower.


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