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Agema Publications

A forum for the disscussion of the Play by Mail games from Agema Publications


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    Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please

    Rozwi_Game10
    Rozwi_Game10
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    Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please Empty Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please

    Post by Rozwi_Game10 Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:00 pm

    Is it possible for someone to be a great help to me and tell me the information from the Gazetteer for Khami (presuming there is an entry).

    Rozwi's 'capital' is based at Khami, and I'm trying to get an idea on what the Kraal will look like.

    Zimbabwe's history features the building of stone-walled settlements, such as those at Great Zimbabwe and various other locations, but from what I can so far establish these kraals did not house as large a population of people as the more famous Zulu kraals (which were made from wood etc) and whose perimeters could be a mile or more in length, right round - one account I've read mentions it taking five minutes to walk from point A (on the West side fence) across the line of huts and then the cattle pens and central open ground, through the opposite cattle pen and then through that sides line of huts to reach point B (on the East side fence).

    Information for the Rozwi Empire/Kingdom is scarce, so I'm currently reading library books on the Zulu. These have given me a lot of information regarding Zulu living arrangements and how the kraal functioned, but in order to translate this into relevance for my Rozwi position I need to know the information regarding any stone structures located at Khami, and should such structure interfere with the settlement of the kraal.

    I obviously don't own a copy of the Gazetteer. I plan on getting it at some point in the future, but with funds being restricted for me (and the game position not really requiring to know too much about geography) my money is being spent on the game turns at the moment.

    Thank you for any help that people can provide me. It'll be much appreciated.
    Roy

    [I'm also full of cold, so apologies if some of the above doesn't make immediate sense]
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    jamesbond007
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    Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please Empty Re: Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please

    Post by jamesbond007 Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:52 pm

    Just looked for you. No entry in the gazetteer for your capital. Try emailing Richard, he may have some info for you.
    Rozwi_Game10
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    Post by Rozwi_Game10 Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:45 pm

    Thank you

    I'll sort something out myself, sketch it out on paper using the wikipedia information and send it in with a game turn so it can be put on file in my account, should Richard approve.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khami

    It was this passage on my game position sheet that made me think about this

    "An exception to this rule as that old citadels and walls where noted in the Gazetteer entries do exist, even when not noted above."

    But the walls in question at Khami appear to be more structural than defensive. Would possibly withstand an attack made by a pre-gunpowder army, but would soon fall to a European power.

    Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please Khamiruins3

    Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please Khami-zimbabwe
    Outer wall at Khami (today)

    Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please Khami
    Ruins of Khami, Zimbabwe, near Bulawayo (Torwa Dynasty)

    Rozwi Gazetteer Question - Asking For Help, If Possible, Please Khami_reconstruction
    The interior
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    jamesbond007
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    Post by jamesbond007 Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:46 pm

    With European cannon and siege equipment it is understandable that African defences are weaker. All you have to do is ask a friendly European or Indian player to build you a fortress around your Capital. This should be as strong as any others that way.
    Rozwi_Game10
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    Post by Rozwi_Game10 Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:51 am

    I'll submit this to Richard with my next game turn, then he can make changes where needed and then tag it on to my game position information. The most useful information, for me, was getting a population number for the settlement. That and the drought issue!
    Information obtained from sites such as Zimbabwean tourism, World Heritage etc.

    Rozwi_Game10 wrote:Khami
    Khami's origins lie with the fifteenth century decline in the Great Zimbabwe State. As the former started to wane so a new leadership emerged in western Zimbabwe securing for itself the political and trading influence of its predecessor.

    Situated on the west bank of the Kame River, the site is laid out to follow the regional practice of the royal complex built upon a hilltop and the majority of the settlement housed below.  It is this lower settlement where the majority of Khami's 7000 inhabitants live.

    The hilltop Royal Kraal is built upon a series of raised, circular, sometimes terraced, artificial platforms encased by dry stone walls. These beautifully decorated retaining walls feature a checkerboard design along their entire length, and raise the living platforms 2-7m above the ground and the settlement below. These high status terraces carry dhaka (clay) huts, where members of the royal family and important officials live, and also provide meeting areas and ritual spaces.

    The areas climate supports a natural vegetation of open woodland, but being close to the Kalahari Desert, the area is also vulnerable to droughts, and rainfall tends to vary considerably.

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