Axum: Center of Goods and Ideas ► Geography = extended from Ethiopia to the Red Sea (present day Eritrea) ► Human Characteristics = descended from African farmers & peoples from the Middle East who had Jewish traditions  Unique written and spoken language = Geez

Trade & Wealth in Axum: ► Two Major Cities =  Adulis (port city)  Axum (located inland)  Commanded a triangular trade network ► Connected Africa, India and the Mediterranean ► Many goods & enslaved peoples flowed through these cities  From the interior: ivory, animal hides and gold  From the Southern African Coast/India: iron, spices, precious stones and cotton  Ships carried goods up the Red Sea, collecting goods from Europe and the Mediterranean

Axum Converts to Christianity ► Greek, Egyptian, Arab and Jewish Merchants interacted with traders from India and other regions ► 300s = Christianity reaches Axum  King Ezana makes Christianity the official religion ► Effects of Christianity:  At first, ties were strengthened with b/w Axum, North Africa and the Mediterranean world  600s = Islam began to spread across N. Africa ► Axum remained Christian ► Became isolated from its trade networks via religion  Eventually led to civil disputes, weakening the empire

Ethiopia: A Christian Outpost ► Isolation in Ethiopia:  Originally settled by the Aximites  Maintained independence for centuries due to geography ► Surrounded by mountains ► Unified by their Christian faith ► Distinct Culture:  Churches of Lalibela ► 11 churches built by King Lalibela ► Built from solid rock down into mountains  Many made pilgrimages to Jerusalem  Tied to Christian communities in Egypt  Christian practices absorbed local customs: ► Geez ► East African Music and Dance

Judaism in Ethiopia ► Kings of Ethiopia:  Claim descent from Israelite king Solomon & Queen of Sheba  Ethiopians observe some of the Jewish holidays and dietary laws  Ethiopian Jews = known as Falasha ► Lived in Ethiopian mountains until the late 1900’s ► Most left for Israel after a long famine

East African City-States ► City-States grew as Axum declined  Kilwa, Mogadishu, Mombasa, Sofala all flourished on the coast of East Africa  Ideally located for trade with Asia ► Effects of Trade: Asian immigrants added to the cultures of East Africa ► Trading Centers Flourish:  600s = annual monsoon winds carried ships from India to Africa  Ships arrived from Persia, Arabia and China  Acquired goods from Africa’s interior in exchange for cotton cloth, silk, spices, porcelain, glassware and swords

Relations b/w City States: ► Generally peaceful ► Competed for trade ► Kilwa became the most successful ► All generated enough revenue to build strong, independent communities ► The point: There was enough trade to go around!

Effects of East African Trade: ► Swahili:  Resulted from the international trade and blending of cultures in E. Africa ► Traders from Middle East and Asia began to settle permanently in E. Africa  E. Africa absorbed the cultures of these peoples ► Ex: Architecture reflected E. African and Arabic designs, many Arabic words were also absorbed into the language

Great Zimbabwe: ► Located south and inland of coastal city-states ► Architecture consisted of large, stone houses ► Zimbabwe = inland trade capital ► Established b/w  Peoples brought iron, mining methods and improved farming skills  Stone enclosures were built to protect livestock ► 1300 = Reached its peak  Accessed gold resources for trade with coastal cities ► 1500: Zimbabwe was in decline  Suggest population may have been too great  Portuguese traders undermined smalls states that comprised the empire