AksumAksum

By: Tyler Achuff

What is Aksum?

Aksum is an Ancient kingdom in northeastern Africa. The people of Aksum were in a monarchy nation, which means that Aksum was ruled by a king or queen.

What I knew about Aksum.

I knew that Aksum is now Ethiopia and Eritrea.

My Essential Question

Q: How did Aksum become so powerful?

My Essential Question Answer

Aksum became so powerful because it was one of the most important trading kingdoms in eastern Africa. Aksum exported ivory, iron, salt incense, gold, and exotic animals.

Religion

Aksum was the first major kingdom to convert completely to Christianity.

This is the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion

Achievements

Aksum was the first kingdom to mint coins.

An Aksum-minted coin

Achievements (cont.)

Aksum is suspected to be the final resting place for the Ark of The Covenant, which is a golden box that holds the ten commandments. It is said to be located in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Ethiopia.

Ceremonies

For ceremonies, Aksumites use obelisks. Obelisks are also used for grave stones, the most famous one is The obelisk of Axum.

This is the Obelisk of Axum

The downfall of Aksum

Aksum declined because of the rise of Islam and the control of trade by Muslim sailors. Also, climate change is another main reason of the decline of Aksum.

What I thought was cool

I thought that the Ark of the Covenant might have been brought to Aksum.

What questions do I have now

Is the Ark of the Covenant really in that church?What wars was Aksum in?

Sources

Information:1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aksumite_Empire

2.http://wysinger.homestead.com/aksum.html

3.http://www.ethiopianhistory.com/Aksum

4.http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aksum.htm

Sources (cont.)

Information:5.http://worldheritagesite.org/sites/

aksum.htmlPictures:

1.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Stela_aksum.jpg

2.http://www.13suns.com/zion1.jpg

Sources (cont.)

Pictures:

3.http://www.smithlifescience.com/SSAfricaAskumCoin.jpg

4.http://z.about.com/d/archaeology/1/0/n/A/axum_obelisk.jpg