Question 1

Who gained territory around what two seas (in Africa)? What was a group the crossed one of these seas, and conquered what region of the Arabian Peninsula.?

Accepted Answer

Aksum gained territory in Africa around the Red Sea and the Blue Nile under Zoskales and subsequent kings. The tyrants also crossed the Red Sea and conquered the southwest region of the Arabian Peninsula.

Question 2

What did merchants trade as necessities and/or luxuries, and what were items that they gained/choose in return?

Accepted Answer

Aksumite merchants traded necessities such as salt and luxuries such as rhinoceros horns, tortoise shells, ivory, emeralds, and gold. In return, they chose from items such as cloth, glass, olive oil, wine, brass, iron, and copper.

Question 3

When did the kingdom of Aksum reach its highest point and most prosperous ideas, and who was the person in ruling? What was the main/original goal of this ruler?

Accepted Answer

The kingdom of Aksum reached its height between AD 325 and 360, when an exceptionally strong ruler, Ezana, occupied the throne. Determined to establish and expand his authority, Ezana first conquered the part of the Arabian peninsula that is now Yemen.

Question 4

Other than worshiping their main aksumite gods (including, Astar, Mahrem, Beher, and Medr) what were aksumites, and what were some examples of what they did to serve their religion?

Accepted Answer

Aksumites were also animists, however, and worshiped the spirits of nature and honored their dead ancestors. They offered sacrifices—often as many as a dozen oxen at a time—to those spirits, to Mahrem, and often to the Greek god of war, Ares.

Question 5

When Ezna Finally became ruler, what did he do to change what the "rules" and "norms" of the society had been? What did he specifically say?

Accepted Answer

Ezana turned to Christianity and made it the state religion of Aksum when he attained power as monarch. The royal court was converted as a result of Ezana's conversion, but beyond the court, native faiths were still practiced for many years.

Question 6

Why were coins so important to the Aksumite people?

Accepted Answer

The first country south of the Sahara to have its own coinage (imprinted saying "may the country be satisfied")  Ezana believed that this would increase his favorability among the public. They would be reminded that he had their best interests in mind.

Question 7

As a result of protecting Muhammad’s family and followers, during the Islamic invasions, what happened to them?

Accepted Answer

Aksum protected Muhammad’s family and followers during their rise to power. As a result, initially they did not invade Aksum’s territories on the African coast of the Red Sea. Retaining control of that coastline enabled Aksum to remain a trading power.

Question 8

What led to Aksum's decline in its power?

Accepted Answer

To escape the advancing wave of Islam, Aksum’s rulers moved their capital over the mountains into what is now northern Ethiopia. Aksum’s new geographic isolation—along with depletion of the forests and soil erosion—led to its decline as a world power.

Question 9

What did the islamic invaders do in the year 710? How did this affect the Aksum people?

Accepted Answer

The invaders seized footholds on the African coast as well. In 710, they destroyed Adulis. This conquest cut Aksum off from the major ports along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Then, kingdom declined as an international trading power.

Question 10

What was the first mention of Aksum, and how was it described?

Accepted Answer

The first mention of Aksum was in a Greek guidebook written around AD 100. It describes Zoskales thought to be the first king of Aksum. He was “a stickler about his possessions and always [greedy] for getting more, but in other respects a fine person"

Question 11

What is one example of how diverse the heritage of Aksum had been?

Accepted Answer

Aksumites always had a diverse cultural heritage. This included traditions of the Arab peoples who crossed the Red Sea into Africa and those of the Kushite peoples they settled among. As the kingdom and its power expanded, it's trade attracted many.

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Module 12 Lesson 3