Kingdom of Aksum

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kingdom-of-aksum

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Northeast Africa, encompassing parts of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea
2. What is the peak period?Approximately 1st to 7th centuries CE
3. What were the giant stone towers of Aksum called?They were called colossal stelae. These huge granite monoliths, some taller than 30 meters, were built as tomb markers for Aksumite royalty.
4. Why did Aksum become rich?Aksum controlled trade routes that linked the Roman Empire, India, and Africa. Merchants traded ivory, gold, and spices for silks and glass from faraway lands.

Stelae: Massive, carved stone monoliths erected by the Aksumites, primarily as monumental tomb markers for royalty.
Ge'ez: An ancient South Semitic language and script originating in Aksum, used for religious texts and inscriptions.
Coinage: The practice of minting and circulating metal currency, a sophisticated economic indicator of Aksum's power and reach.
Red Sea Trade: The vital maritime commerce network that Aksum controlled, linking Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia.