Torwa state

E39505

The Torwa state was a precolonial Shona-speaking kingdom in southwestern Zimbabwe, centered at Khami and known for its stone architecture and role as a successor to Great Zimbabwe.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Shona-speaking polity
historical state
precolonial African kingdom
archaeologicalCulture Khami culture
archaeologicalSite Khami Ruins
associatedWith Khami architectural style
capital Khami
centeredAt Khami
continent Africa
country Zimbabwe
culturalSuccessorOf Great Zimbabwe culture
economyBasedOn agriculture
cattle herding
regional trade
ethnolinguisticGroup Shona
flourishedInCentury 15th century
16th century
17th century
hasArchaeologicalEvidence elite residences at Khami
stone-walled platforms at Khami
terracing and retaining walls
hasFeature complex settlement hierarchy around Khami
elite stone platforms separated from commoner areas
heritageSiteAtCapital Khami Ruins National Monument
influenced later Rozvi polities
influencedBy Great Zimbabwe architectural traditions
knownFor decorated stone walls
dry-stone walling
stone architecture
terraced stone platforms
language Shona language
locatedIn southwestern Zimbabwe
materialCulture beadwork
decorated pottery
iron objects
modernCountryTerritory Republic of Zimbabwe
partOfHistoricalRegion Rozvi and Torwa cultural area
politicalCenterType stone-built hilltop complex
politicalSystem monarchy
precolonialStatus existed before European colonization of Zimbabwe
region southern Africa
religion Shona traditional religion
rulingEliteCulture Shona culture
successorOf Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe
successorStateSite Khami Ruins World Heritage Site
timePeriod Late Iron Age
tradeNetwork interior southern Africa trade routes

Referenced by (3)

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