Axum

Arabians crossed the Red Sea and intermarried with people from modern- day Ethiopia These people created the kingdom of Axum

Aksum gains power In the 300’s AD, Axum destroyed Kush, becoming the most powerful kingdom in Eastern Africa

A trading center Axum becomes an important trading center for goods around the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia Many new ideas introduced there, including Christianity

Aksum converts to Christianity When a king named Ezana took the throne around 400 AD, he converted to Christianity and made Christianity the official religion of Axum There are still millions of Christians in this region today.

Ethiopia, a Christian Kingdom Slowly began to weaken in the 600s  Economics  and spread of Islam Zagwe  New dynasty from the 1100s that continued the Christian tradition  Carved huge churches out of solid rock

East African City-States Trade continued to bring people together Between 800s and 1400s Arab and Persian immigrants blended with local communities  Formed more that three dozen city-states

The Swahili Culture Swahili- formed in trading towns along coast East Africa  Primarily Muslim Blending of cultures  Grew into city-states by 1000  Stonetowns- multistory stone houses  Contact through trade brought a multi cultural mix  Swahili became a language that includes words from trade

My World page 185 Add the kingdoms of Axum and Kush using the map My World on page 185 as a reference