Which civilization built the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe?

The Shona people built the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe.

Great Zimbabwe was a major stone-built settlement in present-day Zimbabwe, flourishing from about the 11th to the 15th centuries. Its dry-stone walls were constructed without mortar, including the famous Great Enclosure and the Hill Complex.

The city was the capital of a powerful trading state. Archaeological finds such as Chinese and Persian ceramics, glass beads, and coins from the Arabian coast show that Great Zimbabwe participated in long-distance trade linked to the Indian Ocean. Cattle keeping and farming also supported its population.

Colonial-era writers wrongly attributed the ruins to foreign builders, denying their African origin. Archaeology and historical research established that local Shona-speaking communities created and occupied the site. The name Zimbabwe comes from a Shona term associated with stone houses or settlements.