Great Zimbabwe is in Zimbabwe, the modern country named after the ancient stone city. The ruins lie in the country's southeastern hills near Masvingo and were the capital of the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe during its height.
Settlement began around 1000 CE, while the most substantial construction took place between the 11th and 15th centuries. Shona-speaking ancestors built the monumental walls from granite blocks fitted without mortar. The Great Enclosure, Hill Complex, and Valley Complex formed the main parts of the settlement.
Great Zimbabwe was a powerful center in regional trade. Gold and other goods moved through southern Africa toward Swahili trading cities on the Indian Ocean. The site was eventually abandoned during the 16th or 17th century, probably because of changing trade routes, resource pressures, and political shifts.
A common misconception is that the ruins were built by outsiders. Archaeological evidence shows that they were created by African societies in the region. Great Zimbabwe became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, and its name is reflected in Zimbabwe's national identity.