Aksum Empire

By: Lexi
What was the Aksum was a name of a city and a
kingdom in modern-day northern
Aksum Empire? Ethiopia. The Aksum Empire lasted 100
BC to about 940 AD, that was about
1100 years. Despite their reputation
very little is known about the Aksum
empire. There are written scripts but
no histories or descriptions about this
rich civilization being real.
Main Agricultural The people of Aksum grew things like
the wheat and barley to trade them.
practice and Salt was also a product that they would
products trade in. Even though their scriptures
and prayers are in Ge’ez rather than in
Hebrew they have gotten attached to
the religious beliefs and practices set
in the Pentateuch (the religious texts of
the Jewish religion).
Eight Features of 1. Cities
2. Organized Central Government
Civilization 3. Complex Religions
4. Job Specialization
5. Social Classes
6. Writing
7. Art and Architecture
8. Public Works
Cities Definition: Farmers start to settle and
start to produce extra food.This will
increase the populations, which will
make the settlements grow into cities.

This city is in northern part of Ethiopia.

The capital of Aksum is one of the
oldest continuously inhabited places in
Africa.
 Definition: As cities developed more
Organized Central and the food supply need to be
maintained. Government began to
Government oversee the business and existence of
the cities.

Their government was Monarchy. In

the 4th century C.E. A series of
kingships governed and profited off
their trade wealth. The King's uses their
wealth to make stronger armies and
build up their power to the surrounding
regions, they also took control of trade
routes.
Complex Religions Definition: Religions leaders conduct
ceremonies to please the Gods and
insured a plentiful harvest. When there
were floods or droughts they would
blame the Gods and ritual were
handled in the temples.

The Aksum praised many Gods, but

around 330 A.D. King Ezana turned to
Christianity this made Aksum the
earliest Christian state. They believed
in the three gods(The Father, The Son,
and The Holy Spirit).
Job Specialization Definition: civilizations became more
complex, artisans and craftsmen were
needed to maintain specific tasks.
Individuals couldn’t do all the work.

In this empire people started to build

monuments, Art, Scripts,and Towers.
Social Classes Definition: As jobs became know so did
the status. The need for a
knowledgeable and educated religious
leader was more honored than an
unskilled worker.

This Society was hierarchical which

means the Kings,the Traders, and
Priests were on the top, than the
Nobles were second and the rest of the
population was third.
Writing Definition: Records were needed to
keep track of trade goods and food
storage. Information became grand
and one need to express more ideas
and beliefs.

Aksumites developed Africa's native

writing Ge’ez. Ge’ez is the public
worship language of the Ethiopian
church. This language is a Semitic
language of the southern Peripheral
group who also belonged to the south
Arabic dialect and Amharic.
Art and Definition: This express the beliefs and
values of civilization. Different styles
Architecture were developed and copied.Art was
used to impress visitors and people
about the beauty of the community and
the power of the kingdom.

Aksum was very advanced at that time.

In the late 3rd century the kings of
Aksum minted gold, silver,and bronze
coins(Endubis was the first Aksumite
tint coins). They also built many
churches and monuments that still
stand.
 Definition:The government would order
Public Works these to aid and benefit the community
,which is usually expensive.Such as
building a wall from attacks or aid in
irrigation which will insure the survival
of people.

Some Aksumites worked as farmers.

The farmers developed a new way to
farm called Terrace Farming. Terrace
farming is when they cut steps in steep
mountainsides.
How did Farming helped humans settle in one
spot and lose their nomadic ways, they
Agriculture make also started to domesticate plants and
civilization animals. When the Aksumites started
possible? to farm and domesticate animals this
led them to trade their extra crops and
animals which made their reputation.
How did Aksum In the 7th century, The religion Islam
began to expand very quickly across
Empire fall? the Middle East and Africa. The
Aksum Keep a good relationship with
their Islamic neighbors, but because
the Islamic powers grew more
powerful the Islamic took over the
Aksum Empire slowly.
Activity COLORING SHEET
Work Cited https://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/
ca/books/bkf3/writing/03_aksum.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axum

https://www.khanacademy.org/humani
ties/art-africa/east-
africa2/ethiopia/a/the-kingdom-of-
aksum

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/27/
world/aksum-journal-found-in-
ethiopia-keepers-of-the-lost-ark.html

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/g
hgonline/projects/8FeaturesCivilizatio