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The Kingdom of Axum: Rome's Forgotten African Rival — Fexingo History

History EN ↓ 152 episodes

Long before the rise of Islam, the Kingdom of Axum (c. 100–940 CE) dominated the Red Sea, rivaled Rome and Persia, and minted gold coins bearing the cross of a Christian king. In this series, Lucas and Luna explore how this East African empire—from its capital at Aksum in modern Ethiopia—controlled the ivory, frankincense, and slave trades, launched naval expeditions into Arabia, and defeated the Jewish kingdom of Himyar. They trace Axum's origins as a successor to the D'mt civilization, its adoption of Christianity under King Ezana (c. 320 CE), and its enigmatic decline. They examine the icon...

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Episodes

King Kaleb and the War for Yemen: Axum's Greatest Conquest 24.04.2026 5:58

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the reign of King Kaleb, the Axumite ruler who launched a massive military expedition across the Red Sea to conquer Himyarite Yemen in the 6th century. They explore the religious and political motives behind the invasion, the brutal persecution of Christians in Najran, and Kaleb's construction of the iconic Church of the Ark in Axum. The conversation also...

Axum: The Red Sea Empire That Rivaled Rome 23.04.2026 6:47

In the 4th century CE, a powerful kingdom in the Horn of Africa minted gold coins, erected towering obelisks, and traded as far as India and the Mediterranean. This is Axum, a civilization that Rome could neither conquer nor ignore. Join Lucas and Luna as they journey to the highlands of Ethiopia, where King Ezana built a state that rivaled Persia and Byzantium. They explore the mystery of the Ste...