The Axum Empire: When Christianity Came to Africa

Long before European missionaries set foot in sub-Saharan Africa, the kingdom of Axum in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea adopted Christianity as its official religion in the 4th century CE—making it one of the earliest Christian states in the world. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of King Ezana, the mysterious figure of Frumentius (who became the first bishop of Axum), and the geopolitical rivalries that shaped the empire's conversion. They discuss the trilingual Ezana Stone, the rise of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the fascinating story of the nine saints who brought monasticism from the Roman Empire. Along the way, they touch on Axum's trade networks linking Africa, Arabia, and India, its conflict with the Kingdom of Kush, and the enduring legacy of the Ark of the Covenant tradition in Ethiopian Christianity. This is a deep dive into how faith intertwined with empire in a region often overlooked in world history narratives. #Axum #Ezana #Frumentius #EthiopianOrthodox #KingdomOfAxum #ChristianityInAfrica #EzanaStone #Tewahedo #NineSaints #ArkOfTheCovenant #Kush #Adulis #Monasticism #AncientAfrica #RedSeaTrade #4thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #MauryanEmpire #AshokaTheGreat Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo