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Questions and Answers
What was the title of the king of Da'amat?
What was the principal god of the people of Da'amat?
When did the Aksumite state begin to prosper?
What was the location of the major port of Aksum?
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What was the Lingua Franca of the Greco-Roman world?
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Which king of Aksum used to speak Greek?
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What was traded by the Aksumite state?
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With which region did Aksum have relations?
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What was the primary purpose of the big caravan of 500 that would take goods to Sasu?
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What was the significance of Aksum's contact with the South Arabian region?
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What was the significance of the coins minted by Aksumite kings from the 3rd to 7th centuries?
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What was the role of ships in Aksum's economy?
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What was the outcome of King Kaleb's expansion of Aksum's overseas territories?
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What was the role of Yared in the development of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church?
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What was one of the factors that contributed to the decline of the Aksumite state?
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What was the impact of the Aksumite civilization on the peoples of the region?
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Study Notes
Da'amat
- Located south of Aksum
- The king of Da'amat used the politico-religious title "Mukarib"
- Worshiped various gods and goddesses, including:
- Almouqah (principal god)
- Astarr (Venus god)
- Na'uran (light god)
- Shamsi (sun god)
- Sin (moon god)
- Similar practices found in South Arabia
- Cultural centers in northern Ethiopia included:
- Yeha
- Addi-Seglemeni (30km from Yeha)
- Hawulti Melazo (10km from Addi-Seglemeni)
Aksum
- The oldest center
- Emerged around 1000 BC
- Interacted with South Arabian merchants
- Prosperity period: 750-500 BC
- Excavated paintings represent herds of cattle
- Oldest Ethiopian monumental inscription discovered
- The Aksumite State was formed around 200-100 BC
- Initially limited to a small area around Aksum, but expanded to include large territories
Aksumite State
- Expanded to include the Red Sea coast, northern Eritrea, and northern Shewa
- Adulis was the major port of Aksum
- Long-distance trade included:
- Natural products
- Manufactured products (garments, textiles, glassware, jewelry, metallic sheets, tools, oil, and wine)
- Trade partners: Egypt, India, Roman Empire, and Persia
- Aksumite kings, such as Zoscales (c. 76-89), spoke Greek, the Lingua Franca of the Greco-Roman world
- Relations with Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Laodicea (Asia Minor)
Trade and Commerce
- Commercial activities in the Red Sea area
- Internal long-distance trade between Aksum and Sasu (possibly in Beni Shangul)
- Caravans exchanged goods, including cattle, salt, iron, and gold
- Silent trade involved bargaining through signs and gestures
Relations with South Arabia
- Extensive contacts with South Arabia resulted in exchange of ideas, material and spiritual culture
- Conflicts, such as the challenge by the army of King Gadarat around 200 AD
- Coins were minted from the 3rd to 7th centuries by kings such as Aphilas, Endybis, Wazeba, Ezana, and Ousanas II
Aksumite Power and Decline
- Aksum was one of the four great powers of the world (along with the Roman Empire, Persia, and China) from the 1st to 7th centuries
- Major naval and trading power
- Had sufficient timber for ship building and a large fleet of ships for trade and war
- Kaleb expanded overseas territories beyond Himyar and Saba
- Decline of the Aksumite state began in the late 7th century due to:
- Environmental degradation and decline in agricultural productivity
- Destruction of the port of Adulis by the Arabs around 702
- Challenges to Aksumite hegemony from local rebellions
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Description
This quiz is about the ancient Da'amat kingdom, its culture, and its relations with South Arabia. Learn about the politico-religious title of the king, the gods and goddesses worshipped, and the cultural centers of northern Ethiopia.
