Trade, Trade-Offs, and Traitors: The Royal Court of Great Zimbabwe, 1450

APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 25 delegates

Great Zimbabwe, the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, was a major center of government and trade in pre-colonial Southern Africa. Trade facilitated by the city’s elites links the African interior to China, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Swahili Coast through the exchange of commodities like gold, ivory, and cattle. Its complex political system supports a large, stratified society, though it is rife with internal rivalries among elites and chiefs that often lead to instability and infighting. However, Great Zimbabwe’s dominance is now threatened as control of regional trade shifts toward other powers, particularly the Swahili city-state of Kilwa. As caravan leaders defect and allied chiefs shift loyalties, Great Zimbabwe faces an escalating crisis: the collapse of its trade supremacy and the competition of Kilwa as a newly dominant force on the Swahili Coast. 

ISSUES TO CONSIDER

Issue 1: Control of Regional Trade Networks: Control over the trade networks in and out of Great Zimbabwe was closely tied to political authority, intensifying competition among elites for possession of the most lucrative routes and increasing structured economic inequality. In what ways is it possible to shift the balance of power with these limitations? 

Issue 2: Migration and Splits from the Kingdom: As the city’s trade dominance declines, regional leaders increasingly choose to break away, redirecting their loyalty and business elsewhere. These migrations have drained the Kingdom of Zimbabwe of labor and wealth while also wrecking political cohesion and fueling the rise of rival political and commercial centers. How can unity be restored or adopted in the new political climate?

Issue 3: Environmental Change and Resource Pressures: Great Zimbabwe faced both natural and human-induced resource pressures that hastened it towards its eventual decline. With the onset of the Little Ice Age, environmental pressures, including increased climate variability, periodic droughts, and a general cooling of temperatures by roughly 1°C, which strained agricultural productivity and water availability. The human element only exacerbated this problem, as overgrazing and deforestation contributed to soil degradation and reduced the land’s long-term agricultural capacity.

About the Chair

Sofie Lucas is a student in the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgetown University. She is double majoring in Neurobiology and Government on the pre-med track. Sofie is from Saratoga Springs, NY.

This is Sofie’s first year with NAIMUN. While she has never worked with NAIMUN before, she loves all things government and international relations and enjoys working with people who share her interests. Sofie is super excited to be chairing a committee for Historical Crisis this year!

Outside of NAIMUN, Sofie does theatre with both Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society and Nomadic Theatre on campus. She is also the Performance Coordinator for Georgetown Ballet Theatre and Secretary for The Anthem Literary Magazine. Over the summer, Sofie will earn her EMT certification as well. In her (little) spare time, Sofie enjoys reading, writing and dancing. 

Sofie is thrilled to be joining the NAIMUN LXIII team this year and can’t wait to work with the delegates and her fellow staff members!

About the Crisis manager

Julia Grimwade is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts & Sciences at Georgetown University. She is double-majoring in Government and Theology with a concentration in Religion, Politics, and the Common Good, and is minoring in Spanish. She is a proud midwesterner from Cleveland in the great state of Ohio.

Within Georgetown’s International Relations Association, Julia has served as Under Secretary-General for Historical Crisis at NAIMUN LXIII, Crisis Manager at NCSC LIII and DistrictMUN VI, Chair at NCSC LIV, and crisis analyst at NAIMUN LXII. She is so excited to continue her involvement in the best organ at NAIMUN!

Outside of MUN-related clubs, Julia is on the Georgetown club rock climbing team and is head of Media and Marketing for If You’re Reading This. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and listening to 70s rock. She is planning to attend law school after completing her undergraduate degree.

Julia is very excited to be a part of NAIMUN for her third year! She can’t wait for conference weekend and is very excited to work with the delegates!