Comparing the Development of Trade in Gotland and Great Zimbabwe :: Geography

Comparing the Development of Trade in Gotland and Great Zimbabwe There were many differences and similarities between the ways trade has developed in Gotland and in Great Zimbabwe. In this essay I would discuss the most important ones, that can indicate something about trade development in other places in the world. The time span in which trade has developed and came to its highest level in both places was about the same. In Great Zimbabwe it was between the 10th and the 16th centuries. In Gotland it started in the Vikings age end (9th century) and ended in the 16th century. The trade was reduced radically after these eras have passed. The main reason for it in Great Zimbabwe was social and environmental reasons_Great Zimbabwe was abandoned. Another reason is that the Portuguese began exploring southeast Africa and made colonies there, that weakened the Shona Kingdom even more. In Gotland the trade amounts were reduced because it stopped being an independent island_it was vanquished by its enemies. The conquering of a place could affect the trade and its development for the worse. The geographical locations in both places have affected the trade development. Both places have coasts. In Gotland, which is an island, it was probably hard to create trade connections when the ships were not so developed. When the ships were more advanced, Gotland was used as a trade station_ships from the Baltic area got equipped and traded with the Gutar. Great Zimbabwe is found in the mainland but it is close to the coast. Great Zimbabwe's region contains many gold resources and it is a good agricultural zone. The location of an area and the resources in it could affect the trade and its development tremendously. The markets that the merchants in each place traded with were ones that the best way to reach them was by sailing. The people from Great Zimbabwe used the winds that are blowing in the Indian ocean and the Arab sea to navigate to the places they traded with. The places are: southern Arabia, India, China. The Gutar traded with ships that came to Gotland from the Baltic area. In the golden age of the trade in Gotland the Gutar have reached to places all over Europe and even to the Mediterranean sea countries. Both places have traded with countries of their areas since the ships were not so well developed at that time_unlike today, they were not good and safe enough for very long sails. In the past an access to a sea or an ocean could affect the trade and its development.