Monarchy
Kingdom of Aksum/Government
Type of Government Based in what are today the East African nations of Ethiopia and Eritrea, the kingdom of Aksum combined the absolute rule of a dynastic monarchy with an innovative system of decentralized provincial administration.
What products did Axum trade?
The kingdom of Aksum traded frankincense, myrrh, ivory and tortoise shell, while receiving imports of copper, bronze, silver, gold and wine. Through control of Adulis, Aksum became extremely wealthy through stiff tariffs on goods, which could be seen through its stunning architecture, monuments and art.
What is the religion of Aksum?
In 320 A.D. Ezana became the King of Axum. Under his rule, Ezana embraced Christianity in 327 A.D. and made it the dominant religion of Axum. Axum became the first state in Africa to adopt Christianity as its official faith and at the time was among only a handful of Christian states in the world.
Why did the Aksum Empire fall?
There exist different hypotheses as to why the empire collapsed, but historians agree that climate changes must have greatly contributed to the end of Aksum. As international profits from the exchange network declined, Aksum lost its ability to control its own raw material sources, and that network collapsed.
What was unique about Axum?
They also developed terraced farming and irrigation, which allowed them to farm the slopes of the local mountains, making their hilly land more productive. Unlike their northern neighbors of Egypt, Aksum did not build pyramids. Instead, Aksum is famous for building tall towers called stelae.
What was the economy of the Axum Empire?
For their economy they sold ivory, cattle, gold, sheep, wheat, camels, barley, emeralds, tortise shells, and rinoceros horns for trade in the Axum Kingdom.
What kind of economy did the Aksum people have?
Aksum economy was based around trade. Trading was important for Aksum because they were in the middle of the Roman empire and ancient India. They traded with many countries such as Alexandrian Egypt, India, Byzantium, and eventually Rome. They traded salt ivory, slaves, and grains. Their homemade coffee doubled as 55% of the exports.
Are there any legends about the Kingdom of Axum?
Such wide acclaim reflects the power and influence once held by the powerful Axumite Empire. There are some interesting legends connected to the fallen kingdom as well. The capital of the kingdom, also called Axum, is allegedly the home to the famed Queen of Sheba and stories say the Ark of the Covenant was taken to the kingdom too.
How did Axum influence the spread of Islam?
Axum was right at the intersection of trade routes between the Mediterranean and these seas and was able to dominate the market on international trade. In the 7th century, the new religion Islam began spreading extremely quickly across the Middle East and Africa.
