Aksum

Aksum was a powerful kingdom in East Africa. It was located.in landsthat are known today as Eritrea, Ethiopia Sudan, Djibouti andsouthwest Arabia. The kingdom became important about 50 A.D. andlasted until about 600 A. D.

Aksum became successful because of its location. The Blue Nile andthe Afar depression are rich in gold and salt. Aksum was also near theRed Sea. This allowed it to trade with other nations, such as Egypt,India, and Arabia. Aksum's rich land produced enough food for itspeople as well as its exotic animals, such as elephants and rhinoceros.

Aksum became a center of world trade. Spices, ivory, ebony, animat skins, glass crystal, brass,

copper and tortoise shells were exported from Aksum. Aksum imported textiles, silveq gold,wine and olive oil from Egypt and the Mediterranean. Aksum also traded with Arabia and Indiaand may have taded with China. Other important exports to the Greek and Roman world werefrankincense (used in burials), and myrrh (important medicinal properties). Both these highly-valued products came from the resin of particular trees which grew mainly in the in Aksum.

Aksum was the first African civilization to produce coins. Thefirst Aksumite coins had witing in Greek. This explains whythe Aksumites began to use coins. They wanted to participatein the trade of the Red Sea-

The kings marked their tombs with magnificent stone pillars,or stelae. The tallest of these stelae were the largest stonemonuments in the ancient world, higher even than the obelisksof the Egyptian pharaohs.

Other achievements of Aksum includeaccomplished styles of pottery making, ivory carving, glasswareproduction, andmetalwork in gold, silver, bronzg, and iron. The remainsof palaces and royal tombs show the complete mastery of granite byAksumite masons.

Archaeologists have also found iron weapons, including tanged spear-lheads in tomb at Aksum. Iron knives or poniards, probably originally withbone or wood handles, were also found.

The decline of Aksum may have been largely to do with their loss of trade.But it is also likely to have been related to the environment. This was the'result of the long-term cutting down of trees and over-use of the soil. '

Outside trade declined and the state developed in greater isolation as

an agricultural community ruled over by a landed aristocracy.

Kng Ezana's Sfe/e isthe tallest standingstelae * 70 feet