Ancient Ethiopia

Ancient Ethiopia, largely centered in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, was home to the Kingdom of Aksum (or Axum), one of Africa’s earliest and most influential civilizations (circa 100 AD to 940 AD). It was a trading hub famous for its monumental obelisks, early adoption of Christianity around the 4th century, and a distinctive script called Ge'ez. Aksum was a powerful empire that controlled trade routes, exchanged goods like gold and ivory, and developed its own culture and religion. Its legacy includes early Christian artifacts, unique architecture, and the origins of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.