Kingdom of Aksum | History, Map, Empire, & Definition

An old African country called the country of Aksum existed. It is also known as Ancient Ethiopia or the Kingdom of Axum.

Where exactly was the Kingdom of Aksum?

On the southern edge of the Red Sea was where the Kingdom of Aksum could be found. While the majority of the empire was located in the Horn of Africa to the west of the Red Sea, Aksum occasionally also controlled parts of the Arabian Peninsula to the east of the Red Sea. A large portion of what is now Eritrea was included in the kingdom, along with northern Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen, and southern Saudi Arabia.

How long was the Aksum Kingdom in power?

Around 400 BCE is when Aksum most likely first appeared. According to legend, the son of King Solomon of Israel and Queen Sheba founded the kingdom at first. Around 100 CE, Aksum started to gain strength and grow, and its apex was reached around 350 CE. It ruled the area up until about 940 CE, when a foreign queen overthrew it. Following a period of instability, the Zagwe Dynasty seized power in the area.

Peak of the Aksum Empire and King Ezana

Under the direction of King Ezana, who ruled from roughly 325 to 360 CE, Aksum achieved its apogee. Aksum grew in size and developed into a significant trading hub throughout this period. Aksum overran the Kingdom of Kush during the reign of King Ezana, destroying Meroe in the process. Also a Christian convert was King Ezana. Being a devoted Christian, he helped make Christianity the dominant religion in the kingdom.

Trade Center

Aksum was ideally situated to develop into a significant trading hub. To trade in Aksum, merchants would travel from Egypt, Persia, India, and central Africa. The Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Nile River were just a few of the important rivers that Aksum had access to for trade.

The city of Adulis, which was located on the Red Sea coast, served as Aksum’s principal port. A vast range of goods were traded by merchants in Adulis, including salt, gold, ivory, jewels, fabric, glass, and olive oil. To purchase items at Adulis, some traders would travel from far-off places like the Roman Empire and India.

Culture of the Aksumian Kingdom

The location of Aksum and its importance in international trade led to a blending of many different regional cultures in Aksum’s culture. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs all had an impact on them. The dominant religion after 325 CE, Christianity, also had a significant impact on the society.

One of Ancient Africa’s more developed civilizations was Aksum. They invented writing and produced their own coinage. Additionally, they created terraced farming and irrigation systems, which enabled them to cultivate the nearby mountains’ slopes and increase the productivity of their steep terrain.

Architecture and Towers

In contrast to their Egyptian counterparts to the north, Aksum did not construct pyramids. Instead, Aksum is well known for its tall towers, or stelae. These towers ranged in height from about 80 to over 100 feet. With intricate carvings, the towers included fake windows, stone doorways, and inscribed text. The Obelisk of Axum, which was taken by Italian troops after they conquered Ethiopia in 1937, is the most well-known of these towers. Later, in 2008, the tower was brought back in pieces and rebuilt.

Interesting information about the Aksum Kingdom

Northern Ethiopia still has the city of Axum. Just over 50,000 people call this relatively modest city home. It is one of Africa’s oldest cities still inhabited today.
There was no mortar used in the construction of the stone structures at Aksum. The stones were instead cut to fit closely together.
Invading Muslims destroyed the city of Adulis in 710. Due to its isolation, Aksum started to decline.
Greek was typically employed as the common language because traders came to Aksum from all over the world to conduct business.