The Aksumite Empire: Africa's Forgotten Trade Giant

Long before the trans-Saharan routes or the Swahili city-states, the Aksumite Empire dominated trade between Africa, Arabia, and the Indian Ocean. This episode explores how Aksum rose from a small kingdom in the Ethiopian highlands to a major power controlling the ivory, frankincense, and gold routes. We discuss the port of Adulis, the mysterious Ezana Stone, and Aksum's rivalry with Himyar. Learn about the empire's unique coinage, its adoption of Christianity under King Ezana, and the environmental shifts that led to its decline. Discover how Aksum's trade networks connected the Roman world to sub-Saharan Africa, and why the empire remains overlooked in conventional trade histories. #AksumiteEmpire #Adulis #Ezana #Himyar #RedSea #IndianOceanTrade #IvoryTrade #Frankincense #AncientAfrica #EthiopianHistory #Coinage #Christianity #LateAntiquity #TradeRoutes #GlobalHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast #SilkRoad #HanDynasty Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo