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 iconic monolithic stelae, the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant supposedly housed in the Church of St. Mary of Zion, and the geopolitical dance with Byzantium and Sasanian Persia. They debate: Was Axum truly a 'forgotten rival' to Rome, or a peripheral player? Why did its port of Adulis vanish from history? And what does its legacy mean for modern Ethiopia's identity as a Christian outpost in Africa?

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