The Empire of Aksum: Of Kings, Queens, and Solomon's Lost Ark of the Covenant!

We will hold discussions about the connections between Aksum's history and those of other international players of the day - Rome, the Greeks, Persia, Egypt, etc., and about Aksum's religious, political, and economic dynamics.  I use PowerPoint for slides showing both texts and material remains that have been found that are relevant to our discussion.

Below is a detailed itinerary of our time travels that will cover the pre-history of the Empire of Aksum and into its experience of the early Modern period.

Day 1: Ancient Ethiopia:  Where the Greek Gods go on Holiday

The ancient kingdom of Aksum comprises territory which today includes the nations of Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and Yemen. But before Aksum’s rise to fame it was already a coveted land known to the Egyptians, and the Greeks, among others.  For Homer, Ethiopia was the place Zeus and gods went “on holiday” because it was such a rich and pleasurable land. On Day 1 will talk about the pre-history of Ethiopia and how its strategic geographical location set Aksum up for success.  

Day 2: Ezana: Self-Proclaimed King of Kings in Aksum

Today we will focus on Ezana, the 4th-century king of Aksum during whose reign many notable changes in the kingdom occurred.  Among those changes was his conversion to Byzantine Christianity and its corresponding flourishing in the kingdom. In addition, he conquered his rival, the kingdom of Kush (whose capital was Meroe), and extended the frontiers of his dominion throughout the horn of Africa. Though Aksum is not usually named among the great empires of history, the period of Ezana’s rule is marked by many of the same characteristics as Rome and Persia during their prime.

Day 3: Geography Matters:  Aksum’s Keys to Success

Aksum became incredibly wealthy – even minting its own gold  coins, for example – due in large part to its trade along water routes to the north (with Egypt and Rome – the Nile and the Red Sea) and the east (India and modern-day Ceylon).  On Day 3 we will talk about Aksum’s extensive trade networks and also how the riches of their own territory led to their great wealth and influence.


Day 4: The Twilight of the Glory Days

In the end, costly conflicts with Persia over the territory of Yemen and the rise of Islam diminished Aksum’s influence – though it continued to exist as a political entity for centuries to come.  In the 14th Century the Kebra Nagast (“Glory of King”), the Ethiopian national epic recounted the story of the empire’s founding and some interesting tales about King Solomon of Israel, the Queen of Sheba, and something about a lost (stolen) ark.  We will end our study talking about this national “myth” and how the descendants of this often underrated empire can speak to us today.


No previous knowledge of the subject matter is required.