Axum's King Zoskales: The Merchant King Who Built an Empire

Before Ezana's Christian revolution, before Kaleb's Arabian wars, there was Zoskales—the shrewd ruler who turned Axum into a commercial powerhouse. In this episode of The Kingdom of Axum: Rome's Forgotten African Rival, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of Zoskales, mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea as a king who controlled the Horn of Africa's trade routes. They discuss how Zoskales leveraged Adulis as a gateway for ivory, frankincense, and slaves, while maintaining diplomatic ties with the Roman Empire. The conversation also examines the transition from the port city of Adulis to the inland capital of Axum, the role of the Beja as intermediaries and threats, and the archaeological evidence for Zoskales's influence. How did a ruler barely mentioned in surviving texts shape the trajectory of an empire? Tune in for a deep dive into the economic foundations of Axum. #Zoskales #Axum #Adulis #PeriplusOfTheErythraeanSea #RomanTrade #Ivory #Frankincense #RedSea #Beja #Negus #Ge'ez #HornOfAfrica #AncientHistory #EastAfrica #TradeEmpire #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo