Kingdom of Aksum

Overview

Contemporary with Rome and Sasanian Persia, Aksum minted its own gold coinage, controlled Red Sea trade and, under King Ezana, became one of the first Christian states.

Timeline

1. c. 100 CEEmergence of the kingdom
2. c. 330Ezana adopts Christianity
3. c. 520Kaleb's invasion of Yemen
4. c. 940Kingdom falls

Rulers

Wars & conflicts

• Wars with Meroë
• Himyarite campaigns

Architecture

Granite stelae up to 33 m tall; royal palaces; rock-hewn tombs.

Religion

Traditional polytheism, then Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.

Economy

Ivory, gold, incense; controlled trade between Rome, India and the Horn.

Technology

Own gold coinage in Greek and Ge'ez, monumental stone quarrying.

Art

Stelae, gold coins, Ge'ez inscriptions.

Influence

Ancestor of medieval Ethiopian civilization; Christianity has persisted since the 4th c.

Decline

Shift of Red Sea trade, environmental degradation, Islamic expansion.

Key sites

• Aksum stelae field
• Debre Damo
• Yeha

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