Axum
The date range of the existence of the Kingdom of Axum
What is 8th century BCE to 5th century CE?
The main religion of Ethiopia
The meaning of the word "Swahili" in Arabic
What is "people of the coast"?
This natural weather phenomenon was utilized in trading across the Indian Ocean
What are Monsoons?
The kanga is frequently identified with what culture along the east African coast starting in the early 1880s?
Language spoken by the aboriginal people of Axum
What is Ge'ez?
This dynasty portrayed itself as restoring the glory of the old kingdom of Axum
What is the Solomonid dynasty?
The country that invaded the Swahili in 1505
What is Portugal?
This sea was used as a primary travel method to trade between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Located in the Indian Ocean.
What is the Red Sea?
This material is noted by historians as having a local production as early as 1200 A.D in Zanj (as well as possibly on the Somalia coast).
Another name that Axumite Christianity was known by
What is Miaphysitism?
The Church of St. George is located in this city
What is Lalibela?
SURPRISE DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is the Swahili Language (Kiswahili) primarily composed of and what is its importance both in the past and in modern day?
Kiswahili is a mixture of both Arabic and Bantu languages. Kiswahili allowed for easy coastal trade with Arabs, and trade with the rest of the African Continent. Kiswahili is spoke by over 100 million East Africans currently and is the official language of the African Union.
SURPRISE DISCUSSION QUESTION
What role did the Swahili play in African trade?
The Swahili played as the Middleman between the interior and arriving trade ships.
Writings from this century confirm that trade occurred between China and the African Kingdom of Zanj.
What is the 1400s?
SURPRISE DISCUSSION QUESTION
What led to the fall of the Kingdom of Axum, and how does it compare and contrast with the rises and falls of other African empires?
Deforestation and exploitation of natural resources is a common theme for many other African kingdoms.
Contrary to other kingdoms. Islam was a large contributing factor to this kingdom's downfall.
The name of the Ethiopian National Epic also known as "Glory of Kings"
What is "Kebra Negast"?
The written evidence we have about East African cultures that was translated in the early 20th century
What is the Pate Chronicles?
This Ancient Axum port city exported gold, ivory, and slaves. It also imported numerous crafting materials from places such as the Roman/Byzantine Empire, Egypt, India, and the Middle East.
What is Adulis?
What island was a crossroads for trade with the interior of Africa and across the Indian Ocean? The kanga was frequently found in the markets here.
What is Zanzibar?
Under this ruler did the Kingdom of Axum begin to form, with this ruler being labeled as a king and then eventually an emperor
Who is Nagashi?
SURPRISE DISCUSSION QUESTION
What developments during the Zagwe dynasty led to the weakening of Ethiopia and how did they weaken Ethiopia?
The old testament of Christianity became a central point in the culture of Ethiopia, allowing the church to gain more political power, and in turn allowed internal conflicts to arise by being backed by the church.
The Swahili culture developed in a 2000 mile stretch that is between these two modern-day countries
What is present-day Somalia and Mozambique?
This medieval Ethiopian dynasty, who originated as Christian military elites, rose to power thanks to Fatimid Egypt reviving the Red Sea trade.
What is the Zagwe dynasty?
SURPRISE DISCUSSION QUESTION
What countries are the kanga found in and how is the kanga shaped by culture and local use?
The kanga is found all over the world such as in Japan, Lamu, the Rift Valley, Nairobi, Dar es Salam, the Comoros islands, Mozambique, eastern DRC, Oman, Dubai, and more locations. The kanga represents the things, ideas, and practices by the people in this area and this is seen in its various designs.