• AxumAxum – – trading center and powerful ancient kingdom in trading center and powerful ancient kingdom in northern present-day Ethiopianorthern present-day Ethiopia

• AdulisAdulis – – an Axum port city on the Red Sea, one of two major an Axum port city on the Red Sea, one of two major cities in the kingdom that commanded a trade network in the cities in the kingdom that commanded a trade network in the regionregion

• EthiopiaEthiopia – – a Greek term used by Axumite kings to refer to a Greek term used by Axumite kings to refer to their kingdomtheir kingdom

• King LalibelaKing Lalibela – – the ruler of Ethiopia in the early 1200s the ruler of Ethiopia in the early 1200s• SwahiliSwahili – – an East African language and culture that emerged an East African language and culture that emerged

by the 1000s from a combination of African, Asian, and by the 1000s from a combination of African, Asian, and Arabic influencesArabic influences

• Great ZimbabweGreat Zimbabwe – – powerful East African medieval trade powerful East African medieval trade center and city-state between 900 and 1500. Located in center and city-state between 900 and 1500. Located in southern present-day Zimbabwesouthern present-day Zimbabwe

11.3 East African Kingdoms & Trading States11.3 East African Kingdoms & Trading States

LG 4: Compare economic, political, & social developments in East, West, & South Africa. SS.912.W.3.13

• One of its main cities, One of its main cities, Adulis,Adulis, was a port on the Red was a port on the Red Sea. Here, goods such as Sea. Here, goods such as ivory, animal hides, & ivory, animal hides, & gold were brought to market.gold were brought to market.

• Axum controlled a triangular trade network between Axum controlled a triangular trade network between Africa, India, & the Mediterranean.Africa, India, & the Mediterranean.

Axum grew very wealthy through trade.

• This conversion strengthened the kingdom’s This conversion strengthened the kingdom’s ties with North Africa & the Mediterranean.ties with North Africa & the Mediterranean.

• However, However, when Islam spread in the 600s, when Islam spread in the 600s, Axum became isolated from its teade Axum became isolated from its teade partners. partners.

• Civil war & economic weakness Civil war & economic weakness led to the led to the decline of Axum.decline of Axum.

Axum converted to Christianity in the 300s.

• King Lalibela King Lalibela came came to power in to power in Ethiopia in the Ethiopia in the early 1200s.early 1200s.

• He directed the He directed the building of building of Christian churches, Christian churches, carved into solid carved into solid rock.rock.

• Protected by Protected by rugged mountains, rugged mountains, Ethiopia kept its Ethiopia kept its independence for independence for centuries.centuries.

The legacy of Axum survived in medieval Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Christianityabsorbed local customs over time.

Some made pilgrimages to Jerusalem.

Ethiopian Christians kept ties with the Holy Land in the Middle East.

Some Ethiopians practiced Judaism. Jews known as Falasha lived in Ethiopia until the late 1900s.

• Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Indian, Muslim, and Asian Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Indian, Muslim, and Asian traders had visited since ancient times.traders had visited since ancient times.

• By the 600s, sailors learned that By the 600s, sailors learned that monsoon winds monsoon winds would carry themwould carry them from India to Africa each year. from India to Africa each year.

• Foreign trade helped local rulers build strong, Foreign trade helped local rulers build strong, independent city-states, such as Kilwa.independent city-states, such as Kilwa.

Trade linked Trade linked distant ports in distant ports in Africa, Asia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle and the Middle East.East.

This vibrant trading culture on the coast of East Africa led to the emergence of a new language.

• Swahili developed as greater numbers of people began to settle in East Africa.

• Arabic words were absorbed into the Bantu-based language to create Swahili, an Arabic word meaning “of the coast.”

• Bantu-Bantu-speaking people who lived in this speaking people who lived in this region 900-1500 region 900-1500 built huge stone towers in built huge stone towers in their capital city: their capital city: Great Zimbabwe. Great Zimbabwe.

• part of an extensive trade network• declined by 1500declined by 1500 due to civil war & slowing due to civil war & slowing

trade.trade.

South of the coastal city-states, a great inland empire existed.

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