Final answer:
Cattle became a widespread symbol of social status in Central and Southern Africa during the medieval period, particularly among the cattle-keeping culture of Leopard's Kopje in Zimbabwe.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Central and Southern Africa during the medieval period, cattle became a widespread symbol of social status. This is evident from the Iron Age culture of Leopard's Kopje in Zimbabwe, a cattle-keeping culture that dominated the area for nearly two centuries. By the thirteenth century, it had given way to the larger state formation of Great Zimbabwe. It is important to note that Christianity, while spreading throughout Africa, often integrated with local customs and beliefs in a process referred to as the 'Africanization' of Christianity. However, it was not the primary symbol of social status in the region.