The Christian Church in Aksum
I can describe the early Christian kingdom of Aksum and how historians have learnt about it.
The Christian Church in Aksum
I can describe the early Christian kingdom of Aksum and how historians have learnt about it.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Christian Churches did not just emerge in the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.
- In Aksum, an important trading kingdom near the Red Sea, Christianity became the dominant religion in the 4th century.
- Sources such as coins, Ezana's stela and the Ezana Stone, suggest that this took place during the rule of King Ezana.
- In Ethiopia today, many Aksumite churches have been found carved into rocky mountainsides.
- Inside these churches the walls are covered with beautiful paintings of Christian stories.
Common misconception
Christianity is a Western religion.
Christianity originated in the Middle East and quickly spread across various regions, including Africa.
Keywords
Trade - people trade by buying or selling items they need or want
Missionary - a missionary is a religious person who is sent to other places to tell others about that religion
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
treated badly and unfairly because of their Christian faith
Christians were blamed for others' mistakes and wrongdoings
person who died or suffered rather than give up their Christian belief
first Christian emperor
persecuted Christians
created a code of law and ordered his people to be Christian