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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Aksumite Overseas Interests |
Author: | Munro-Hay, Stuart |
Year: | 1991 |
Periodical: | Northeast African Studies |
Volume: | 13 |
Issue: | 2-3 |
Pages: | 127-140 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Ethiopia |
Subjects: | Axum polity mercantile history history traditional polities Economics and Trade History and Exploration |
External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/43660094 |
Abstract: | This paper examines overseas trade relations of the kingdom of Aksum (c. AD 1st-early 7th century) in Ethiopia. Expansion into the coastal region of what later became Eritrea permitted the kingdom of Aksum to develop extensive overseas interests. Aksumite prosperity partly depended on maintaining the political and commercial connections abroad which had assisted in the development of its important position in the contemporary world, and possession of a coastal station was thus a vital key for the kingdom to continue its affluence. The greater part of Aksumite overseas activity was conducted through the port of Gabaza-Adulis. After a description of this port and Aksum's imports and exports, attention is paid to Aksumite trade relations with Egypt, South Arabia, Mecca, the Quraysh, and the Caliphate, Rome and Constantinople/Byzantium, Palmyra, Persia, India and Sri Lanka, and, finally, China, although there is no real evidence for contacts between China and Aksum. Bibliogr. |