- 1. THE KINGDOM OF AKSUM 400 BCE to 10 thCentury AD Hornof
Africa
2. Geography
- Aksum is located southeast of Kush on rugged land on the Red
Sea and Indian Ocean, very close to the Mediterranean Sea.
- It is located on modern-day countries, Eritrea and
Ethiopia.
3.
- Aksums central location on the Mediterranean Sea and Indian
Ocean made it an ideal center of trade.
- Aksum traded many necessities, but also sold some very exotic
luxuries in exchange for things not found or made in Aksum.
Economy 4. Religion
- Aksumites believed in one god Mahrem, but they also worshipped
spirits, honored dead ancestors, and offered sacrifices.
- Ezana, raised by a Christian, converted the Kingdom to
Christianity.
Fun Fact:Ethiopia, present-day Aksum, is now home to millions of
Christians, all because of Ezanas converting of the Empire. 5.
Social Life
- Most of the Aksumites worked as farmers who brought mountain
water to the working fields. The main objective of their life was
trading.
- Other Aksumites worked as architects and builders. They built
monuments, thrones, and several pillars.
6. Timeline
- 1000 BCEArab peoples crossed the Red Sea into Africa
- 20 thcentury ADSolomonid Dynastylasted until last ruler, Haile
Selassie died in 1975
- AD 1001 stmention of Aksum in a Greek guidebook (written)
- AD 325-360Aksum reached height while Ezana occupied the
throne.
- AD 330Ezana turned his attention to Kush.
- AD 350Ezana conquered the Kushites and burned Meroe to the
ground.
- AD 550Egyptian merchant named Cosmas described how Aksumite
agent bargained for gold from the people in southern Ethiopia.
7. Architecture
- Aksums most famous bit of architecture is the Pillars of Aksum,
a series of huge pillars placed around the kingdom, with stories
inscribed on the sides.
- The Kingdom of Aksum once had large temples, but were replaced
by richly decorated Christian temples.
8. Technology
- The Kingdom of Aksum was the first kingdom south of the Sahara
to mint its own coins.
- Aksum created a method of agriculture called terrace
farming.
- They built dams and cisterns.
Fun Fact:All coins minted in Aksum were imprinted with the
sayingMay the country be satisfied. 9. Literature
- Geez was the Aksumites language, and is spoken still today in
Etheopia, Eritrea, and Israel.
Fun Fact: Aksum was the only African Kingdom to have developed a
written language by that time. Geez Alphabet: 10. Art King Ezana
Aksum Flag Christian Crosses Pillars of Aksum 11. THE END 12. QUIZ
TIME!!! - Overall
- Our project is on The Kingdom of ________.
13. QUIZ TIME!!! - Literature
- 2. What was the official language of the Kingdom of Aksum?
14. QUIZ TIME!!! Religion
- 3. The official religion of Aksum was changed to Christianity
by _______.
15. QUIZ TIME!!! - Overall
- 4. Cody, Brandon, and Brett deserve what grade on this
project?