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The Kingdom of Axum: Rome's Forgotten African Rival — Fexingo History cover art

The Kingdom of Axum: Rome's Forgotten African Rival — Fexingo History

The Kingdom of Axum: Rome's Forgotten African Rival — Fexingo History

Written by: Fexingo
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Long before the rise of Islam, the Kingdom of Axum (c. 100–940 CE) dominated the Red Sea, rivaled Rome and Persia, and minted gold coins bearing the cross of a Christian king. In this series, Lucas and Luna explore how this East African empire—from its capital at Aksum in modern Ethiopia—controlled the ivory, frankincense, and slave trades, launched naval expeditions into Arabia, and defeated the Jewish kingdom of Himyar. They trace Axum's origins as a successor to the D'mt civilization, its adoption of Christianity under King Ezana (c. 320 CE), and its enigmatic decline. They examine the iconic monolithic stelae, the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant supposedly housed in the Church of St. Mary of Zion, and the geopolitical dance with Byzantium and Sasanian Persia. They debate: Was Axum truly a 'forgotten rival' to Rome, or a peripheral player? Why did its port of Adulis vanish from history? And what does its legacy mean for modern Ethiopia's identity as a Christian outpost in Africa? #KingdomOfAxum #AksumiteEmpire #Ezana #Adulis #Himyar #RedSeaTrade #AncientEthiopia #ChristianityInAfrica #ArkOfTheCovenant #Stelae #DmtCivilization #SasanianPersia #ByzantineEmpire #IvoryTrade #AncientHistory #WorldHistory #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo© 2026 Fexingo. All rights reserved. Hourly Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Axumite Stelae: The Giant Obelisks That Defied Gravity

    Axumite Stelae: The Giant Obelisks That Defied Gravity
    Jun 22 2026
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the engineering marvels of the Aksumite stelae—the towering granite obelisks carved from single blocks and erected over 1,700 years ago without modern machinery. Learn how the Aksumites used wooden sledges, ramps, and levers to quarry, transport, and raise the 33-meter Great Stele weighing 520 tons. Discover the funerary purpose of these stelae, the elite burials beneath them, and the mysterious collapse of the Great Stele. The episode also covers the later history of the stelae, including the removal and restoration of the Obelisk of Axum by Italian forces. Specific terms discussed include the Great Stele, King Ezana's Stele, the Obelisk of Axum, the Gudit Stele, granite quarrying, wooden sledge, ramp, lever, elite burial, and the restoration by UNESCO. #AksumiteStelae #GreatStele #ObeliskOfAxum #KingEzanasStele #GuditStele #AksumiteArchitecture #AksumiteEngineering #AncientQuarrying #GraniteObelisks #EliteBurial #UNESCO #Aksum #EastAfrica #AncientHistory #Archaeology #History #FexingoHistory #Axum Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 mins
  • Axum vs Beja: The Desert Nomads Who Defied an Empire

    Axum vs Beja: The Desert Nomads Who Defied an Empire
    Jun 21 2026
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Aksum's centuries-long struggle with the Beja people, the nomadic tribes of the Eastern Desert who raided the Red Sea trade routes and even sacked the port of Adulis. Drawing on the Monumentum Adulitanum, Greek geographer Ptolemy's writings, and Aksumite inscriptions, they trace how King Zoskales and later King Endubis tried to control the Beja through tribute and military campaigns. The discussion covers the Beja's unique matrilineal inheritance, their Blemmyes identity in Roman sources, and the eventual decline of Aksumite power as the Beja grew stronger. A little-known but pivotal frontier conflict that shaped the fate of East Africa's greatest ancient kingdom. #Axum #Beja #Blemmyes #Adulis #RedSea #MonumentumAdulitanum #Zoskales #Endubis #Periplus #Ptolemy #EasternDesert #Matrilineal #AncientTrade #3rdCentury #Nomads #EastAfrica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • Axum's King Endubis and the First Gold Coins

    Axum's King Endubis and the First Gold Coins
    Jun 21 2026
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of King Endubis of Axum, the first Aksumite ruler to mint gold coins around 270 AD. They discuss how Endubis modeled his coinage after Roman aurei and Kushan staters, using Greek inscriptions and the symbol of the crescent and disc to assert Axum's sovereignty and trade ambitions. The episode delves into the economic and political motivations behind the coinage, the role of the Red Sea trade, and how these coins became a tool of soft power rivaling Rome and Persia. Listeners will learn about the design, weight standards, and archaeological significance of Endubis's coins, including the famous 'stater' series. The conversation also touches on the broader context of Axum's rise as a commercial empire and the legacy of its monetary system. #Axum #Endubis #GoldCoins #AksumiteEmpire #Numismatics #AncientEconomy #RedSeaTrade #RomanEmpire #Kushan #Stater #Aureus #Mahrem #Adulis #Ge'ez #Sassanid #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 mins
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