Axum's Aksumite Navy: The Red Sea Fleet That Rivaled Rome

Long before the Kingdom of Axum minted its famous gold coins or converted to Christianity, it commanded a formidable navy that patrolled the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the overlooked maritime power of the Aksumite Empire. They examine the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea's descriptions of the port of Adulis, the construction of hulls sewn with coconut fiber, and the specialized trade in frankincense, myrrh, and tortoise shell. Lucas explains how King Zoskales and later King Ezana used the fleet to project power, suppress piracy, and control the ivory and spice routes. The episode also delves into the archaeological evidence from the Adulis excavations and the recent discovery of a submerged harbor structure. Listeners learn about the seasonal monsoon winds that dictated sailing schedules, the role of Greek and Egyptian merchants as intermediaries, and the strategic alliance between Axum and the Roman Empire against the Himyarites. A brief historical controversy arises over whether Axum ever built warships or merely refitted merchant vessels for combat. The conversation ends by connecting this naval legacy to the later Axumite expeditions to Sri Lanka and the fall of Axum's maritime dominance to the Sassanids. #Axum #AksumiteNavy #Adulis #RedSea #PeriplusOfTheErythraeanSea #IndianOceanTrade #IvoryTrade #Frankincense #Zoskales #Ezana #Himyar #Sassanid #MaritimeHistory #AncientNavy #EastAfrica #RomanEmpire #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo