Causes for the decline and ultimate abandonment of the site around 1450 have been suggested as due to a decline in trade compared to sites further north, the exhaustion of the gold mines, political instability and famine and water shortages induced by climatic change. The Mutapa state arose in the fifteenth century from the northward expansion of the Great Zimbabwe tradition, having been founded by Nyatsimba Mutota from Great Zimbabwe after he was sent to find new sources of salt in the north; (this supports the belief that Great Zimbabwe 's decline was due to a shortage of resources). Great Zimbabwe also predates the Khami and Nyanga cultures.
factors that led to the decline of the great zimbabwe state
a decline in trade compared to sites further north the exhaustion of the gold mines political instability famine and water shortages induced by climatic change