Empire · 100–940 · Northern Africa

Kingdom of Aksum

Also known as Axum

Aksum rose in the highlands of what are now Eritrea and northern Ethiopia in the 1st century CE, growing rich from Red Sea trade through its port of Adulis, which linked the Roman world with Arabia and India. Aksumite kings controlled trade in ivory, gold and incense, minted their own gold, silver and bronze coins, and raised giant carved stone stelae over royal tombs.

Around 340 King Ezana converted to Christianity, making Aksum one of the first Christian states. In the 6th century King Kaleb sent armies across the Red Sea to rule Yemen. The rise of Islam, and Persian and then Arab control of the sea routes, cut Aksum's trade, and by the 10th century the kingdom had faded as power shifted south.

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Years

100–940

Capital

Aksum; main port at Adulis

Greatest extent

350, about 1.25 million km²

Region

Northern Africa

Under Ezana: northern Ethiopia, Eritrea and campaigns into Nubia; Kaleb later ruled Yemen across the Red Sea c. 525; c. 1.25M km² c. 350 (Turchin, Adams & Hall 2006)