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Whatever the case, with the Arab take-over of the routes and many of the destinations of Aksumite trade after the preliminary Persian incursions into Arabia and the eastern Roman world, the `Aksumite' Christian kingdom changed its policies and bowed to events. The trade with the Mediterranean world had decayed and even the Red Sea route itself, when the Abbasid shift of the capital to Baghdad after 750AD had emphasised the role of the Persian Gulf, became much less important, not reviving until the Fatimids were able to police and develop it in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Aksumite cultural heritage (now bound firmly with Christianity), though no longer directed by a king of Aksum from Aksum itself, but by a hadani or najashi from elsewhere, continued its southward expansion, gradually retiring from the north and the coast over the centuries. The process seems to have been gradual, since Arab writers long refer to the size and wealth of the najashi's realm, and certain regions, though occupied by Muslims, still remained tributary. In the later tenth century the state may have almost succumbed to `Gudit', enabling the Agaw Zagwé eventually to seize control; but even then the churches of Lalibela, attributed to the Zagwé period, still indicate a strong continuity with the Aksumite cultural tradition.

By the mid-seventh century, then, Aksum had lost its political pre-eminence in the region of the Ethiopian plateau , the coastal plains, and the Red Sea. The Ethiopian monarchy had left Aksum and undoubtedly the nobility and the merchant community were also departing. The city's monuments were falling into ruin, and, the result of a slow process of attrition, the formerly rich agricultural land surrounding the city was now capable of only a reduced yield. These were troubled times, and neither invasion nor revolt can be ruled out; the undefended former capital would have been easy prey to invaders, as it was to Gudit and Ahmad Gragn later. Nevertheless, even the most miserable conditions did not deprive Aksum of its legendary heritage, and the departure of the king, the court, the abun and all the trappings of a capital still left it pre-eminent in the possession of its cathedral and religious tradition. The damage done to the cathedral, and the plunder of its riches, did not seem to diminish the reverence of the Ethiopians for the venerable structure; the church was rebuilt and coronation at Aksum was reinstituted as the symbol of legitimate kingship . Aksum managed to survive the hardships of its declining fortunes, and, a political backwater, it became enshrined in Ethiopian tradition as a sacred city, and the repository of the national religion and culture.

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Posts: 477 | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | 

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Ethiopia today is one of the Poorest countries in Afrika though it is located next door to Saudi Arabia.

Do the Saudi Arabs share their wealth with Ethiopian muslims?

Why do so many Ethiopians go to Europe and America to study and not Mecca?

If Islam is such a blessing to the world why do so many Ethiopians go to Europe and America to study and OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE from CHRISTIANS oriented learning Institutions?

How many Christians leave Europe and America to go to Saudi Arabia to OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE?

If you can't deal with the FACTS then don't claim that Islam is good for Afrikans.

Hotep

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Posts: 8675 | From: Tukuler al~Takruri as Ardo since OCT2014 | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged | 

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Greetings:

Aksum was a great Civilization in Ethiopia/Ityopia Rome was a ally of Aksum Christianity was the main Religion of Aksum after the Arab invasion the Civilization was destroyed.

Stuart Munroy Hay is a well known author of historical books towards Ethiopia so I would suggest to read it, especially this part

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Posts: 8675 | From: Tukuler al~Takruri as Ardo since OCT2014 | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged |