Chapter 5: Ancient Aksum [Axum]: Civilization, Christianity, and Impact

Another important early civilization in Africa was the Ancient Aksumite civilization, or simply, Ancient Aksum, sometimes spelt as “Axum.” How and when did the civilization emerge? How was it organized? What were the major aspects of its social, economic, and political organization? Even more importantly, is the history of Christianity in Ancient Aksum, specifically, and Africa, as a whole. How did Christianity spread and develop into Aksum? What is the legacy of Aksum as a Christian nation? Finally, what are the connections between Aksum and modern Ethiopia? Students should examine these questions in this module.

There are several materials/resources on this topic, and students can read all or a few of them, focusing on at least three of the articles listed below on the rise of Aksum, the origin of Christianity, and Ethiopia]. The materials or resources include:

• David W. Phillipson, “Aksum in Africa,” Journal of Ethiopian Studies, vol. 23 (November 1990), pp. 55-65,  Aksum in Africa (csuohio.edu)
• Federica Sulas, Marco Madella and Charles French, “State Formation and Water Resources Management in the Horn of Africa: The Aksumite Kingdom of the Northern Ethiopian Highlands,” World Archaeology , Mar., 2009, Vol. 41, No. 1, The Archaeology of Water (Mar., 2009), pp. 2-15: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/40388239.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A4de8d5e652705224c05e6056495a09af&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1

• Catherine D’Andrea, Andrea Manzo, Michael J. Harrower, Alicia L. Hawkins, “The Pre-Aksumite and Aksumite Settlement of NE Tigrai, Ethiopia,” Journal of Field Archaeology, Vol. 33, No. 2 (Summer, 2008), pp. 151-176: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/25608503.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3Ae5ba8f1f066db2c006485ea957d5beea&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1
• Niall Finneran, “Hermits, Saints, and Snakes: The Archaeology of the Early Ethiopian Monastery in Wider Context,” The International Journal of African Historical Studies, Vol. 45, No. 2 (2012), pp. 247-271: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/24392941.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A6111729ca68f80a4098f71dd3be91156&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1
• Knud Tage Andersen, “The Queen of the Habasha in Ethiopian History, Tradition and Chronology,” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 63, No. 1 (2000), pp. 31-63: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/1559587.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A9f5cb3cae7884078fd8032b031d870b8&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1
• Eivind Heldaas Seland, “Early Christianity in East Africa and Red Sea/Indian Ocean Commerce,” African Archaeological Review, December 2014, Volume 31, Issue 4, pp 637–647https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10437-014-9172-5
• Steven Kaplan, “Ezana’s Conversion Reconsidered,” Journal of Religion in Africa , 1982, Vol. 13, Fasc. 2 (1982), pp. 101-109: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/1581205.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A8ee12c71f70114e077a73dabdf1fe569&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=search-results&acceptTC=1
• Ayele Bekerie, “Some Historical Reflections on the Origin of the Word Ethiopia,” International Journal of Ethiopian Studies, vol. 1, no. 2 (Winter/Spring 2004), pp. 110-121, Ethiopica: Some Historical Reflections on the Origin of the Word <italic>Ethiopia</italic> (csuohio.edu)

2. Videos:

•  Faces of Africa: Keepers of the Ark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gDEXmyoC_Q
• UNESCO Aksum Heritage Site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3G5ZklLkm0
• Zeinab Badawi, The Rise Of Aksum – BBC History Of Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4OSEpexs_Q