Kingdom of Axum

The Kingdom of Axum was a trading empire with its hub in Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. It existed approximately 150BC–940 AD, growing from the Iron Age proto-Axumite period c. fourth century BC to achieve prominence by the first century AD. Aksum began to rise in power and expand around 100 CE, reaching its peak around 350 CE. Most people in Aksum speak a Semitic language called Ge'ez.

This wealthy African civilization thrived for centuries, controlling a large territorial state and access to vast trade routes linking the Roman Empire to the Middle East and India. Aksum, the capital city, was a metropolis with a peak population as high as 20,000. Aksum was also noteworthy for its elaborate monuments and written script, as well as for introducing the Christian religion to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.

The city is located some 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) above sea level, on a plateau. Its climate, rainfall patterns, and fertile soil made the area suitable for herding livestock and agriculture. Most importantly, the city was strategically positioned at the crossroads of trade routes running in every direction, from the East African coast to the continent's interior.

The Aksumites took full advantage of these commercial opportunities. Gold and ivory were perhaps their most valuable export commodities, but they also trafficked in tortoise shells, rhinoceros horns, frankincense, myrrh, emeralds, salt, live animals, and enslaved people. In exchange, they imported textiles, iron, steel, weapons, glassware, jewelry, spices, olive oil, and wine.

Aksum was the first African country to mint its own coins—in gold, silver, and bronze—all in the standard weight categories issued by the Roman Empire.

Queen Yodit successfully destroyed the Empire of Axum in 940CE and reigned over Ethiopia for four decades, and established Hebrewism the religion of Sheba as a state ideology. It’s during the seventh year of her reign, she established a new dynasty in the Axumite Del-Nä’ad, that continued for the next three centuries.