Great Zimbabwe expansion

How would Southern Africa be affected if the Great Zimbabwe kingdom expanded to become an empire and consume surrounding states (Mugabe, Magpenbuwe, etc.)? Perhaps Africa would find a similar Mali Empire of the West and would challenge the western Kingdom of Kongo?
 
Hmm I would think it both more lucrative and more likely that it eliminates the middle man by taking Sofala then interacts with the Swahili Coast.
 
I thought the main difference between GZ and their neighbors was that they used some stone in their buildings while everyone used bricks. Stone buildings in the region would have been expensive extravagances, like Versailles. It is impressive but you can't dominate a region just through the merits of your architectural prowess.
 
Didn't the Kingdom of Monomotapa more or less check the boxes described here, having conquered all across the Zambezi river between the 15th and 16th centuries after annexing Great Zimbabwe? Before the Portuguese slowly tore it to shreds, that is?
 
Didn't the Kingdom of Monomotapa more or less check the boxes described here, having conquered all across the Zambezi river between the 15th and 16th centuries after annexing Great Zimbabwe? Before the Portuguese slowly tore it to shreds, that is?
Oh they did far more than that according to this dutch map.
1200px-Monomotapa_Map.jpg

On a related note it's good to see that the ASB has always existed...
 
Tbh I know I'm probs one of the more "Afrocentric" people on here but I really don't think of Great Zimbabwe as anything more than a slave holding pin.

It's more a testimony to Indian Littoral trading powers than say solely indigenous processes.

Hmm I would think it both more lucrative and more likely that it eliminates the middle man by taking Sofala then interacts with the Swahili Coast.

They could never take Sofala tbh
 
Oh they did far more than that according to this dutch map.

On a related note it's good to see that the ASB has always existed...

One point with the Mutapa is that if we can avoid the "accidental crusade" of 1561, this could lead to a more peaceful Portuguese "Soft Empire" - effectively creating Christian Kingdoms along their trade routes.

Plus, considering the Jesuits of OTL - peaceful trade and work with the Jesuits could allow these kingdoms/realms to pick and choose all sorts of knowledge from Europe, effectively a S.African Timbuktu.
 
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