The Le∞er to al-Najashi

The Kingdom of Aksum

Aksum was a major centre of trade with merchants arriving from central Africa, Persia, India and Egypt. Adulis was the major port city of Aksum, situated on the coast of the Red Sea, here merchants traded in many things including salt, gold, ivory, gems, cloth, glass and olive oil. Due to Aksum’s location and role in international trade, the culture of the kingdom became a blend of different influences including Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Arab.

Unlike their neighbours in Egypt, Aksum did not build pyramids. Instead, Aksum was famous for building tall towers called stelae, the tallest of which was 100 feet high. The towers were carved with elaborate inscriptions, stone doors and fake windows.