Economy
The kingdom of Mutapa’s main source of income was the selling and trading of gold internationally via export through the Swahili town of Sofala and later Portuguese ports. The location of the gold mines were kept secret punishable by death. The state owned all gold in the empire. The kingdoms early beginnings became wealthy by exploiting copper and ivory. The Portuguese came and setup trade stations and tried to take over the gold reservoirs so they could dominate the trade between Africa and India. They eventually succeeded by gaining the empires mineral rights through political means by overthrowing a former ruler with one they could manipulate. After the Portuguese gain the mineral rights they try to get the populace to mine the deposits but they flee. In the local trade of the empire two sought after items were salt and iron. The iron was used to craft tools such as the hoe. The empire also grew cotton and produced cotton cloth. Cloth was even made from the bark of the baobab tree. The empire received means also by collecting taxes from their subjects. The Mutapa Empire also traded gold for ceramics and beads, which were a symbol of status at that time. The exchange of the empire and currency had been established by payments of tribute.