Palaces of stone : uncovering ancient southern African kingdoms / Mike Main & Tom Huffman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Main, Michael, author.

Huffman, Tom, (Thomas N.), 1944- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Stone buildings--Africa, Southern--History.

Stone buildings.

Architecture--Africa, Southern--History.

Architecture.

Antiquities.

Civilization.

History.

Africa, Southern--Civilization--History.

Africa, Southern.

Africa, Southern--Antiquities.

Southern Africa.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

168 pages : illustrations, maps ; 21 cm

Place of Publication:

Cape Town, South Africa : Struik Travel & Heritage, 2021.

Summary:

Across the face of southern Africa are more than 460 remarkable stone palaces - some small, others rambling, but many are astonishing. All are the legacy of kingdoms past. Some, such as Great Zimbabwe, Khami in Botswana and Mapungubwe in South Africa, are famous world heritage sites, but the majority are unknown to the general public, unsung and unappreciated. Palaces of Stone brings to life the history of various early African societies, from AD 900 to approximately 1850. By exploring a selection of known and unknown sites, the authors uncover the emergence of ancient civilisations and reconstruct the meaning of the ruins they left behind. Woven into the narrative are stories of powerful political states; flourishing local economies; long-distance trade; and the destruction wrought by colonialism and modern-day treasure hunters. This book will appeal to anyone interested in Africa's ancient heritage.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 1. Early beginnings at Schroda

2. The rise of K2 and Mapungubwe

3. The ritual of rainmaking

4. The demise of Mapungubwe

5. Great Zimbabwe in modern times

6. The growth of Great Zimbabwe

7. Symbolism and ritual in Zimbabwe Culture societies

8. Administration and trade in the Zimbabwe Culture period

9. The Torwa, Mutapa and Rozwi states

10. The end of an era.

Notes:

Includes glossary.

Includes bibliographical references (page 163) and index.

ISBN:

9781775846147

1775846148

OCLC:

1111790360

Publisher Number:

99989443891