- 4 votes
Several factors contributed to the decline and eventual fall of the Rozvi state. These included:
1. External pressures from European powers such as Portugal, who sought to control trade and resources in the region.
2. Internal power struggles among ruling elites, which weakened the central government and led to political instability.
3. Environmental degradation due to overuse of natural resources such as timber and water, which led to declining agricultural productivity.
4. Declining economic conditions due to a decrease in trade and an increase in raiding by neighboring states.
5. The impact of diseases such as smallpox, which devastated the population and weakened the state's ability to defend itself.
6. The Mfecane, a period of widespread violence and upheaval in southern Africa during the early 19th century, which disrupted trade routes and led to increased raiding by neighboring states.
Overall, a combination of internal and external factors contributed to the decline and eventual fall of the Rozvi state.
