Axum's Lost Trade with China

In this episode of The Kingdom of Axum: Rome's Forgotten African Rival, Lucas and Luna explore the surprising trade links between the Aksumite Empire and Tang Dynasty China. Through the lens of a single artifact—a Chinese bronze coin found at the ancient port of Adulis—they unravel a web of connections that spanned three continents. Discover how the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentioned 'Sêsatai' (China), and how Byzantine gold coins and Chinese silk flowed through Aksumite ports. Learn about the roles of Indian middlemen, the Sassanid control of maritime routes, and the enigmatic Cosmas Indicopleustes, who wrote about silk reaching Ethiopia. This episode also touches on Ge'ez inscriptions that reference 'the land of the Seres' and the political factors that eventually constrained these long-distance exchanges. A fascinating look at how a kingdom in East Africa once sat at the crossroads of the medieval world economy. #Aksum #Axum #Adulis #TangDynasty #ChinaTrade #Periplus #CosmasIndicopleustes #SilkRoad #IndianOceanTrade #Sassanid #Byzantine #Ge'ez #EastAfrica #RedSea #AncientTrade #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo