Final answer:
The rise and fall of Great Zimbabwe followed the trade of gold.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rise and fall of Great Zimbabwe followed the trade of gold. Situated in the Sabi River valley, Great Zimbabwe was strategically positioned for long-distance commerce between the goldfields of the western plateau and the Swahili center of Sofala, which connected Zimbabwean trade goods to the island of Kilwa. Zimbabwean gold made Kilwa the wealthiest of all the Swahili city-states.