Axum
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San Francisco State University *
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200
Subject
Religion
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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3
Uploaded by GrandMask9567
FROM AFRICA TO OLMEC AMERICA
SYLLABUS AFRS 300
SPRING 2012
FROM AFRICA TO OLMEC AMERICA
March 28, 2012
Questions for
Christian Axum
1. What kind of religious practices existed before Christianity in Axum?
Before its conversion to Christianity, the Aksumites practiced a polytheistic religion related
to the religion practiced in southern Arabia
2. Who was Mahrem in the traditional Axumite culture?
The Empire practiced a polytheistic and Judaic religion, possibly worshiping gods such
as Astar, Beher, Meder/Medr, and Mahrem, but later adopted Christianity around AD
325
3. How do the Axumites say they are linked to the ancient Jews?
they believed they were descendants of the Hebrews, who were also Semitic, and traced
their origins back to David
4. Who was Frumentius and what did he accomplish?
Frumentius was the first Bishop of Axum, and he is credited with bringing Christianity to
the Aksumite Kingdom, which was a major trading area for Northern Africa
5. Who became Christian first the Axumites or the Romans?
The Roman Empire
6. What was the first indication that King Ezana had become Christian?
the coins from the first half of Ezana's reign have the disc and crescent symbols of earlier
Ethiopian rulers,
7. What did the two brother kings Abraha and Atsbaha accomplish to spread Christianity in
the Axumite empire?
founded 44 churches.
8. What controversies erupted that began to split the Christian church?
The Great Schism came about due to a complex mix of religious disagreements and
political conflicts
9. What side of the religious controversy did Axum side with?
Christianity. Aksum embraced the Orthodox tradition of Christianity in the 4th century
(c. 340–356 C.E.) under the rule of King Ezana
10. Who were the nine saints?
The Nine Saints were a group of missionaries who were important in the initial growth
of Christianity in what is now Ethiopia during the late 5th century
11. Who were the indigenous people of Axum?
People from the kingdom of Saba, across the Red Sea on the southern part of the Arabian
Peninsula
12. What event caused Axum to invade southern Arabia?
The local geography contributed to the rise of Aksum. The city is located some 2,000
meters (6,562 feet) above sea level, on a plateau By 350, Aksum conquered the
Kingdom of Kush. Around 520, King Kaleb sent an expedition to Yemen against the
Jewish Himyarite King Dhu Nuwas, who was persecuting the Christian/Aksumite
community in his kingdom
13. Who led the Axumite war and what was the result?
King Ezana
14. What was the first inscription which marks the beginning of Christian Axumite
literature?
The oldest known example of the old Ge'ez script is found on the Hawulti obelisk in
Matara, Eritrea. The oldest surviving Ge'ez manuscript is the 5th or 6th century Garima
Gospels.
15. Why did the Ethiopians side with the Muslims against the Christians of Egypt?
Ethiopia had long been a wealthy, established Christian power in eastern Africa.
Between 647 CE and 709 CE, the period when the Muslim Rashidun Caliphate was
rapidly expanding across North Africa, the Christian Kingdom of Axum ruled Ethiopia.
Axum was able to resist Arab conquest for three reasons. 1) Political strength. 2)
Geographical protection. 3) Historical connections to the Arabs
16. What portion of the bible did the Christian of Axum admire the most?
It has also been claimed that Aksum is the home of the Biblical Ark of the Covenant, in
which lies the "Tablets of Law" upon which the Ten Commandments are inscribed
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