Fact Finder - History

The Kingdom of Aksum was a global trading powerhouse that linked the Roman Empire with India. It was one of the first nations in the world to officially adopt Christianity, when King Ezana was converted in the mid-4th century. Aksum is famous for its 'Stelae'—massive, monolithic stone towers that served as markers for royal tombs. The largest of these, the Great Stele, stood over 33 meters tall and weighed 500 tons, making it one of the largest single pieces of stone ever moved in antiquity. Aksum was also the first sub-Saharan African state to mint its own gold coinage, a sign of its immense wealth and economic independence. For centuries, it was considered by the Persians to be one of the four great empires of the world, alongside Rome, Persia, and China.