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Question

Difficulty: EasySequence of Events

Although the stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe were first reported to the Western world by explorer Karl Mauch in 1871, the monument's true history began centuries earlier. Ancestors of the Shona people commenced construction of the massive granite walls in the eleventh century, creating a thriving trading empire. However, by the mid-fifteenth century, the city was abandoned due to a decline in resources, long before colonial writers would falsely attribute its construction to ancient Phoenicians. In 1905, archaeologist David Randall-MacIver conducted the first professional excavations, concluding that the structures were medieval and African in origin. This conclusion was later corroborated in 1929 by Gertrude Caton-Thompson, who used modern stratigraphic methods to confirm Randall-MacIver’s timeline.

According to the passage, which of the following events occurred first chronologically?

  1. The Shona people began constructing the granite walls of the city.Answer
  2. B
    Karl Mauch reported the ruins of Great Zimbabwe to the Western world.
  3. C
    The city was abandoned because of a decline in local resources.
  4. D
    David Randall-MacIver conducted the first professional excavations.

Answer

The Shona people began constructing the granite walls of the city.
The correct answer is the option noting that the Shona people began constructing the granite walls of the city. The passage states that construction began in the eleventh century, which is the earliest chronological point discussed in the text.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the chronological markers for each event mentioned in the passage.
The construction of the walls is dated to the eleventh century; the abandonment of the city is dated to the mid-fifteenth century; Karl Mauch's report is dated to 1871; and David Randall-MacIver's excavations are dated to 1905.
To establish a baseline chronological order, we must find the dates associated with each event in the text.
2
Compare the dates to determine which event occurred earliest in time.
The eleventh century (the start of construction) is the earliest time period mentioned.
Sorting these events chronologically reveals which one happened first.

Key Concept

Tracking chronology in a text with non-linear narration
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Topics

Sequence of Events

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