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The Amazing Race Project - Josh Liu, Stuart Ludlum, Francesco Bertolini
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The Amazing Race: Pilgrimage to Axumite Stelae
By: Josh Liu, Stuart Ludlum, and Francesco Bertolini
About Axum
100-940 A.D.
Welcome to the Amazing Race!
- Axum was a powerful trade nation that ruled over Eastern Africa, near the horn from 100-940 CE.
- It bordered the Nile River, the Erythraean Sea, and at its height, the Sahara Desert.
- Its capital city was Axum, and one of its key ports was Adulis.
Trade & Travel in Axum
Trade & Travel
- The main trade route used in Axum was none other than the Nile River.
- The most popular route connected to Cairo.
- Axum traded with India, Persia, the Roman Empire, and Nubia.
- They usually imported Gold, Salt, and Ivory, and were known for their emerald, obsidian, and slave exports.
Roadblock!
Location: The Nile River
Clue: Cairo
Your Task: Sail to Cairo through one of the given boats. There, you will receive your next clue.
Government and Politics
Government and Politics
- Axum was a kingdom, so they naturally had a king.
- Notable rulers:
- King Ezana I
- Notable achievements of King Ezana I included:
- Expanding the empire north by taking over the declining Kush Empire
- Converting the empire to Christianity
- Bringing the empire into a golden age
- Expanding trade routes.
The Ezana Stone, which records King Ezana's conversion to Christianity
Detour!
Location(s): Meroe and Adulis
Option 1: Meroe
Your task: Follow King Ezana I into the battle of Meroe. The king will give you the information needed to continue.
Option 2: Adulis
Your task: Go to the trade city of Adulis and take 10 pictures of exports from Axum. Return to Axum afterwards.
King Ezana I
Axum's Culture
Culture
- Axum’s culture revolved around artwork and architecture rather than the sciences.
- Much of their architecture was built using stone blocks that fit together.
- They created massive structures called stelae, which were large stone obelisks.
- They resembled Egyptian obelisks
- They were also known for their pottery and metalwork
- Many of their pieces of art had crescents, discs, and Christian crosses for designs.
- They were the first African kingdom to use coinage and plow-based agriculture.
- They had their own language based off of Arabic names Ge'ez.
Detour!
Location: Axum
Option 1: Axum’s Art
Your task: The Axum Empire was very well known for its impressive pottery, glass blowing and metalwork. Popular designs included crescents, discs, and Christian crosses. Your job is to create a piece of artwork with the help of some friendly locals.
Option 2: Massive Monuments:
Your Task: The Axum Empire finds most of its fame in one thing; the stelae. These were massive cut stone blocks that served as monuments and tombs for their rulers. Your job is to go to all of the scattered stelae and take a picture with each.
Axum's Religion
Religion
- Axum originally had a polytheistic religion, but was converted to Christianity under King Ezana I’s rule.
- The religion was brought over by Roman merchants and Saint Frumentius, who baptised King Ezana and then became the first bishop.
- Axum helped to spread Christianity through its conquests into Kush. Diffusion through its merchants also spread the religion further.
- Churches, pottery, and tombs were created in Christian styles.
- The Ark of the Covenant is said to be housed in the capital city of Axum, although it has not been confirmed.
Roadblock!
Location: Mary of Zion Church
Clue: Pilgrimage
Your Task: Go to the capital city of Axum and visit the Mary of Zion Church. There, you will find a priest waiting for you with the needed information to keep going.
Sources
African History 360. "Aksumite Trade and the Port of Adulis." Kwasi.Konadu, 11 Mar. 2018, www.kwasikonadu.info/blog/2018/3/18/aksumite-trade-and-the-port-of-adulis. Accessed 14 May 2020.
"Axum, Expansion of." Encyclopedia of Invasions and Conquests: From Ancient Times to the Present, edited by Paul Davis, 2nd ed., Grey House Publishing, 2006, p. 59. Gale eBooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3487400048/GVRL?u=fairfaxcps&sid=GVRL&xid=6dd68c9e. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Bialo, Ellen. "Aksum: Thriving Center of Trade." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2020, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1185563?cid=41&sid=1185563. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Boundless. "Kingdom of Aksum." Lumen Learning, courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldcivilization/chapter/kingdom-of-aksum/. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Cartwright, Mark. "Kingdom of Axum." Ancient History Encyclopedia, 21 Mar. 2019, www.ancient.eu/Kingdom_of_Axum/. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Charles River Editors. "Ezana (Abreha)." Ancient World History, 8 May 2017, earlyworldhistory.blogspot.com/2012/03/ezana-abreha.html. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Davey, A. "The Ezana Stone." Flickr, 30 Oct. 2007, www.flickr.com/photos/adavey/2840202630. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Davis, Paul K. "Aksum." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2020, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/601429. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Gnisci, Jpoco. "The kingdom of Aksum." Khan Academy, 2014, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-africa/east-africa2/ethiopia/a/the-kingdom-of-aksum. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Go Way. "Nile River Cruises, Vacations, Travel Packages & Experiences." Go Way, www.goway.com/trips/dest/africa-and-middle-east/cntry/egypt/reg/nile-river/. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Hirst, Kris. K. "Aksum the African Iron Age Kingdom." Though Co, 3 June 2019, www.thoughtco.com/aksum-of-ethiopia-iron-age-kingdom-167038. Accessed 14 May 2020.
Hurst, Harold Edwin. "Nile River." Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Nov. 2019,
www.britannica.com/place/Nile-River. Accessed 14 May 2020.
"Kingdom of Aksum." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 22 Aug. 2013. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/kingdom-of-Aksum/571178. Accessed 14 May. 2020.
Link to Google Doc with all sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19mSgXAWkDrHtp1inDs9GWH2S9zzw61fSpTO0DM6N8N8/edit?usp=sharing