45 Ancient Ruins That Are Even More Stunning Than the Pyramids
22. Great Zimbabwe – Africa’s Forgotten Empire
In the heart of southern Africa, Great Zimbabwe is a monumental city of stone ruins that once served as the capital of a powerful medieval kingdom. Flourishing between the 11th and 15th centuries, this vast city was built without mortar, using precisely cut granite blocks to construct towering walls, passageways, and the famous Great Enclosure. Archaeological evidence suggests that Great Zimbabwe was a thriving center of trade, linked to distant civilizations like China and Persia. Despite its grandeur, the site remains shrouded in mystery, with debates over who built it and why it was eventually abandoned.
