3. Factors Leading to the Expansion of the Mwenemutapa Kingdom

• Able Leadership: Leaders like Nyatsimba Mutota and his son Matope were skilled conquerors and administrators.

• Trade in Gold and Ivory: Strategic positioning near trade routes connected to the east coast boosted wealth and expansion.

• Fertile Soil: Supported agricultural productivity and population growth.

• Industries and Crafts: Economic activities like metalwork, pottery, and textile production supported expansion.

• Common Religion: The Mwari cult (ancestral worship) united the people spiritually and culturally.

• Arab Advice and Trade Links: Arabs encouraged expansion for control over gold trade.

Personal Ambitions and Population Growth: Expansion was also driven by Mutota’s ambitions and rising demographic pressures.