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The Aksumite Empire
Greece, Rome, Persia and China are often remembered as great empires in ancient history. However, another important empire is sometimes overlooked: the kingdom of Aksum. Located in eastern Africa, Aksum thrived during the first through sixth centuries CE.
Aksum was positioned on the shore of the Red Sea. Being close to the water helped the empire grow quickly. Starting around 100 BCE, Roman ships began travelling through the Red Sea on their way to trade with India. Ships from Arabia, Asia and Africa began using this trade route as well. Along the way, the ships would stop at the Aksumite port city of Adulis. This provided a great opportunity for Aksumites to sell their goods to foreign traders. Soon the kingdom became a key trading hub where various nations came to exchange goods.
Aksum’s growth as a trading empire was also due to the kingdom’s natural resources. Aksum had fertile land for growing grains such as wheat, barley, millet and teff. The empire also had trees for producing frankincense and myrrh. These products were highly sought after for their pleasant smell. In addition to its agricultural products, Aksumites exported gold and ivory. They also sold unusual goods such as tortoise shells and rhinoceros horns. In return, the Aksumites received glassware, silk, spices and olive oil from Asia and the Mediterranean.
To support its bustling empire, Aksum needed to develop its own coins. It was the first African kingdom south of the Sahara Desert to do so. The Aksumites usually used gold coins to do business with visiting traders. These coins had words on them written in Greek, a language commonly used around the world at that time. However, silver and bronze coins usually had writing in the Aksumite language of Ge’ez. Aksumite coins included a picture of the king, along with his name and title. They were similar to Roman coins, which showed the face of the Roman emperor.
In addition to coins, the Aksumite empire was also known for its huge carved stone monuments. These often resembled thrones or large pillars. The Aksumites used them to mark the graves of important rulers. One of these monuments stood over thirty metres tall and weighed over four hundred and fifty tonnes. Researchers think the Aksumites transported this stone pillar by rolling it on logs for five kilometres. Many believe it was the largest monument ever to be transported during ancient times.
Beginning late in the sixth century CE, the Aksumites started to face more competition for trade. This, together with enemy attacks and power struggles, gradually caused the empire to weaken and fade. However, some examples of Aksumite writings, coins and monuments still exist today. Historians study these objects to learn more about this important ancient kingdom.