Kingdom of Aksum

ancient history · Africa · empires

A massive empire. The Kingdom of Aksum stretched across the Horn of Africa and into South Arabia, covering parts of what is now Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient world.

Built on an older civilization. Aksum grew out of an earlier civilization called D'mt. The kingdom was officially founded in the 1st century and became a dominant force in the region for over 1,000 years.

A trading superpower. Aksum's location made it perfect for trade between Africa, the Mediterranean, Arabia, and India. Merchants from all over the world came to buy and sell goods there.

Capital city Axum. The city of Axum was the heart of this empire and served as its capital. It was a bustling center of power, religion, and commerce where important rulers lived and decisions were made.

Its own money. Aksum was one of the first African kingdoms to mint its own coins, showing just how wealthy and organized it was as a nation.