Timothy Power
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9789774165443
- eISBN:
- 9781617971372
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- American University in Cairo Press
- DOI:
- 10.5743/cairo/9789774165443.001.0001
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Middle Eastern Studies
This book examines the historical process traditionally referred to as the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam from the perspective of the Red Sea, a strategic waterway linking the Mediterranean to ...
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This book examines the historical process traditionally referred to as the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam from the perspective of the Red Sea, a strategic waterway linking the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean and a distinct region incorporating Africa with Arabia. The transition from Byzantium to the Caliphate – a period which falls under the broad rubric Late Antiquity – is contextualized in the contestation of regional hegemony between Aksumite Ethiopia, Sassanian Iran, and the Islamic Hijaz. The economic stimulus associated with Arab colonization is then considered, including the foundation of ports and roads linking new metropolises and facilitating commercial expansion, particularly gold mining and the slave trade. Finally, the economic inheritance of the Fatimids and the formation of the commercial networks glimpsed in the Cairo Geniza is contextualized in the diffusion of the Abbasid ‘bourgeois revolution’ and resumption of the ‘India trade’ under the Tulunids and Ziyadids.Less
This book examines the historical process traditionally referred to as the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam from the perspective of the Red Sea, a strategic waterway linking the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean and a distinct region incorporating Africa with Arabia. The transition from Byzantium to the Caliphate – a period which falls under the broad rubric Late Antiquity – is contextualized in the contestation of regional hegemony between Aksumite Ethiopia, Sassanian Iran, and the Islamic Hijaz. The economic stimulus associated with Arab colonization is then considered, including the foundation of ports and roads linking new metropolises and facilitating commercial expansion, particularly gold mining and the slave trade. Finally, the economic inheritance of the Fatimids and the formation of the commercial networks glimpsed in the Cairo Geniza is contextualized in the diffusion of the Abbasid ‘bourgeois revolution’ and resumption of the ‘India trade’ under the Tulunids and Ziyadids.
George Hatke
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814760666
- eISBN:
- 9780814762783
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814760666.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This book assembles and analyzes the textual and archaeological evidence of interaction between Nubia and the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, focusing primarily on the fourth century CE. Although ancient ...
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This book assembles and analyzes the textual and archaeological evidence of interaction between Nubia and the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, focusing primarily on the fourth century CE. Although ancient Nubia and Ethiopia have been the subject of a growing number of studies in recent years, little attention has been given to contact between these two regions. This book argues that ancient Northeast Africa cannot be treated as a unified area politically, economically, or culturally. Rather, Nubia and Ethiopia developed within very different regional spheres of interaction, as a result of which the Nubian kingdom of Kush came to focus its energies on the Nile Valley, relying on this as its main route of contact with the outside world, while Aksum was oriented towards the Red Sea and Arabia. In this way Aksum and Kush coexisted in peace for most of their history, and such contact as they maintained with each other was limited to small-scale commerce. Only in the fourth century CE did Aksum take up arms against Kush, and even then the conflict seems to have been related mainly to security issues on Aksum's western frontier. Although Aksum never managed to hold onto Kush for long, much less dealt the final death-blow to the Nubian kingdom, as is often believed, claims to Kush continued to play a role in Aksumite royal ideology as late as the sixth century. This book examines the extent to which relations between two ancient African states were influenced by warfare, commerce, and political fictions.Less
This book assembles and analyzes the textual and archaeological evidence of interaction between Nubia and the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, focusing primarily on the fourth century CE. Although ancient Nubia and Ethiopia have been the subject of a growing number of studies in recent years, little attention has been given to contact between these two regions. This book argues that ancient Northeast Africa cannot be treated as a unified area politically, economically, or culturally. Rather, Nubia and Ethiopia developed within very different regional spheres of interaction, as a result of which the Nubian kingdom of Kush came to focus its energies on the Nile Valley, relying on this as its main route of contact with the outside world, while Aksum was oriented towards the Red Sea and Arabia. In this way Aksum and Kush coexisted in peace for most of their history, and such contact as they maintained with each other was limited to small-scale commerce. Only in the fourth century CE did Aksum take up arms against Kush, and even then the conflict seems to have been related mainly to security issues on Aksum's western frontier. Although Aksum never managed to hold onto Kush for long, much less dealt the final death-blow to the Nubian kingdom, as is often believed, claims to Kush continued to play a role in Aksumite royal ideology as late as the sixth century. This book examines the extent to which relations between two ancient African states were influenced by warfare, commerce, and political fictions.
Gebru Tareke
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300141634
- eISBN:
- 9780300156157
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300141634.003.0009
- Subject:
- History, Military History
The Eritrean insurgents dealt the Ethiopian military a humiliating loss at the battle of Shire on February 15–19, 1989—one that will go down in the annals of civil wars as the most unlikely of ...
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The Eritrean insurgents dealt the Ethiopian military a humiliating loss at the battle of Shire on February 15–19, 1989—one that will go down in the annals of civil wars as the most unlikely of defeats. The guerrillas tenaciously and dexterously outmaneuvered the army and went on to secure an impressive and historic victory during the five-day battle, the culmination of fourteen years of armed conflict in Tigray. Multifold weaknesses and errors doomed the Third Revolutionary Army (TRA) less than a year after it was formed to fight insurgency. The government first launched Operation Adwa from June 19 to August 10, but it was Operation Aksum that would prove disastrous for the TRA. Dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam conceded that the defeat had drastically altered the military and political situation in Ethiopia.Less
The Eritrean insurgents dealt the Ethiopian military a humiliating loss at the battle of Shire on February 15–19, 1989—one that will go down in the annals of civil wars as the most unlikely of defeats. The guerrillas tenaciously and dexterously outmaneuvered the army and went on to secure an impressive and historic victory during the five-day battle, the culmination of fourteen years of armed conflict in Tigray. Multifold weaknesses and errors doomed the Third Revolutionary Army (TRA) less than a year after it was formed to fight insurgency. The government first launched Operation Adwa from June 19 to August 10, but it was Operation Aksum that would prove disastrous for the TRA. Dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam conceded that the defeat had drastically altered the military and political situation in Ethiopia.
George Hatke
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814760666
- eISBN:
- 9780814762783
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814760666.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This book explores the influence of warfare, commerce, and political fictions on the relations between two ancient African states, Nubia and the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum. Focusing primarily on the ...
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This book explores the influence of warfare, commerce, and political fictions on the relations between two ancient African states, Nubia and the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum. Focusing primarily on the fourth century CE, it considers how the contact between Nubia and Ethiopia developed within very different regional spheres of interaction. Based on this interaction, the book argues that ancient Northeast Africa cannot be treated as a unified area politically, economically, or culturally. It also suggests that the seemingly weak ties between Aksum and Nubia can be attributed to the geographical orientation of the Ethiopian Highlands and the middle Nile Valley. The book examines how Aksum and the Nubian kingdom of Kush coexisted in peace for most of their history before Aksum took up arms against the latter. This introductory chapter discusses evidence of Ethiopian–Nubian contact before the first century CE.Less
This book explores the influence of warfare, commerce, and political fictions on the relations between two ancient African states, Nubia and the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum. Focusing primarily on the fourth century CE, it considers how the contact between Nubia and Ethiopia developed within very different regional spheres of interaction. Based on this interaction, the book argues that ancient Northeast Africa cannot be treated as a unified area politically, economically, or culturally. It also suggests that the seemingly weak ties between Aksum and Nubia can be attributed to the geographical orientation of the Ethiopian Highlands and the middle Nile Valley. The book examines how Aksum and the Nubian kingdom of Kush coexisted in peace for most of their history before Aksum took up arms against the latter. This introductory chapter discusses evidence of Ethiopian–Nubian contact before the first century CE.
George Hatke
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814760666
- eISBN:
- 9780814762783
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814760666.003.0002
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter explores the question of Aksumite trade with Nubia during the period spanning the first and third centuries CE. It suggests that, despite the expansion of international trade during the ...
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This chapter explores the question of Aksumite trade with Nubia during the period spanning the first and third centuries CE. It suggests that, despite the expansion of international trade during the Roman period, Aksum and Kush did not grow closer and instead had minimal contact. As far as long-distance trade is concerned, the economies of Kush and Aksum operated not very differently but independently of each other. The economy of Kush was intimately bound to the Nile Valley, the main route linking Nubia to Egypt. Aksum depended on agriculture in the Ethiopian Highlands, but its main outlet to the outside world was the Red Sea. This chapter also considers the extent to which Kush and Aksum maintained peaceful trade relations during the period.Less
This chapter explores the question of Aksumite trade with Nubia during the period spanning the first and third centuries CE. It suggests that, despite the expansion of international trade during the Roman period, Aksum and Kush did not grow closer and instead had minimal contact. As far as long-distance trade is concerned, the economies of Kush and Aksum operated not very differently but independently of each other. The economy of Kush was intimately bound to the Nile Valley, the main route linking Nubia to Egypt. Aksum depended on agriculture in the Ethiopian Highlands, but its main outlet to the outside world was the Red Sea. This chapter also considers the extent to which Kush and Aksum maintained peaceful trade relations during the period.
George Hatke
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814760666
- eISBN:
- 9780814762783
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814760666.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter examines Aksum's expansion towards the west and north, based on the testimony of the third-century Aksumite inscription Monumentum Adulitanum II (RIE 277). Although RIE 277 deals ...
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This chapter examines Aksum's expansion towards the west and north, based on the testimony of the third-century Aksumite inscription Monumentum Adulitanum II (RIE 277). Although RIE 277 deals primarily with Aksumite military operations in northeast Africa, its references to similar operations in western Arabia provide evidence for a relative date of the inscription and substantiate the case for its authenticity as preserved by the merchant Cosmas Indicopleustes. This chapter argues that, in the course of the military campaigns described in RIE 277, the Aksumite army pushed as far north as the southeastern frontier of Roman Egypt and as far west as the modern Sudanese–Ethiopian borderlands, leaving Kush in peace.Less
This chapter examines Aksum's expansion towards the west and north, based on the testimony of the third-century Aksumite inscription Monumentum Adulitanum II (RIE 277). Although RIE 277 deals primarily with Aksumite military operations in northeast Africa, its references to similar operations in western Arabia provide evidence for a relative date of the inscription and substantiate the case for its authenticity as preserved by the merchant Cosmas Indicopleustes. This chapter argues that, in the course of the military campaigns described in RIE 277, the Aksumite army pushed as far north as the southeastern frontier of Roman Egypt and as far west as the modern Sudanese–Ethiopian borderlands, leaving Kush in peace.
George Hatke
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814760666
- eISBN:
- 9780814762783
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814760666.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter examines the conflict between Aksum and Kush triggered by the former's invasion of Nubia during the fourth century CE. Drawing on evidence based on several Aksumite inscriptions in Greek ...
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This chapter examines the conflict between Aksum and Kush triggered by the former's invasion of Nubia during the fourth century CE. Drawing on evidence based on several Aksumite inscriptions in Greek and Ge'ez, all of which describe Aksumite military campaigns in Nubia, the chapter argues that two such campaigns took place: the first in the reign of Ousanas and the second in the reign of 'Ēzānā. These campaigns were launched in an attempt to curtail the power of the Noba people who threatened Aksum's western frontier. On both occasions, however, the Aksumites were unsuccessful in holding onto Nubia for long. This chapter also considers the question of the Aksum's role in the fall of Kush.Less
This chapter examines the conflict between Aksum and Kush triggered by the former's invasion of Nubia during the fourth century CE. Drawing on evidence based on several Aksumite inscriptions in Greek and Ge'ez, all of which describe Aksumite military campaigns in Nubia, the chapter argues that two such campaigns took place: the first in the reign of Ousanas and the second in the reign of 'Ēzānā. These campaigns were launched in an attempt to curtail the power of the Noba people who threatened Aksum's western frontier. On both occasions, however, the Aksumites were unsuccessful in holding onto Nubia for long. This chapter also considers the question of the Aksum's role in the fall of Kush.
George Hatke
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814760666
- eISBN:
- 9780814762783
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814760666.003.0005
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter examines the political fiction of Aksum's rule of Kush that persisted into the sixth century. It first considers the extent and nature of Aksumite relations with Nubia during the reign ...
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This chapter examines the political fiction of Aksum's rule of Kush that persisted into the sixth century. It first considers the extent and nature of Aksumite relations with Nubia during the reign of Kālēb and goes on to analyze texts in light of Aksumite relations with regions to the west of Ethiopia. It also discusses the evidence, preserved in Syriac by John of Ephesus and supported in part by limited archaeological evidence, for sporadic Aksumite contact with post-Kushite Nubia. It argues that Aksum did not exercise any political control in Nubia during the sixth century, much less later.Less
This chapter examines the political fiction of Aksum's rule of Kush that persisted into the sixth century. It first considers the extent and nature of Aksumite relations with Nubia during the reign of Kālēb and goes on to analyze texts in light of Aksumite relations with regions to the west of Ethiopia. It also discusses the evidence, preserved in Syriac by John of Ephesus and supported in part by limited archaeological evidence, for sporadic Aksumite contact with post-Kushite Nubia. It argues that Aksum did not exercise any political control in Nubia during the sixth century, much less later.
George Hatke
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814760666
- eISBN:
- 9780814762783
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814760666.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This book has explored the history of Aksumite–Nubian relations based on the available archaeological, epigraphic, and literary evidence. For the period before the rise of Aksum, there is good ...
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This book has explored the history of Aksumite–Nubian relations based on the available archaeological, epigraphic, and literary evidence. For the period before the rise of Aksum, there is good evidence of commercial and even political contact between Nubia and the Horn of Africa. By the turn of the first millennium BCE, however, the two regions seem to have gravitated toward two different axes: a Nile Valley axis in the case of Nubia and an Ethiopian Highlands–Red Sea axis in the case of Ethiopia. Thus for the Nubian kingdom of Kush, the most obvious point of contact with the outside world was Egypt. The book concludes by raising three important points. First, ancient Northeast Africa was not an integrated region politically, economically, or culturally. Second, political fictions played an important role in Aksumite royal ideology. Third, it is not clear whether Aksum's invasions of Nubia in the fourth century were the end result of strained political relations between them.Less
This book has explored the history of Aksumite–Nubian relations based on the available archaeological, epigraphic, and literary evidence. For the period before the rise of Aksum, there is good evidence of commercial and even political contact between Nubia and the Horn of Africa. By the turn of the first millennium BCE, however, the two regions seem to have gravitated toward two different axes: a Nile Valley axis in the case of Nubia and an Ethiopian Highlands–Red Sea axis in the case of Ethiopia. Thus for the Nubian kingdom of Kush, the most obvious point of contact with the outside world was Egypt. The book concludes by raising three important points. First, ancient Northeast Africa was not an integrated region politically, economically, or culturally. Second, political fictions played an important role in Aksumite royal ideology. Third, it is not clear whether Aksum's invasions of Nubia in the fourth century were the end result of strained political relations between them.
Christian Julien Robin
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199654529
- eISBN:
- 9780191801433
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199654529.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
The sources examined here describe the conquest of South Arabia and Arabia Deserta by Ḥimyar, and the relationship between Ḥimyar and the tribes of Arabia. The chapter also considers the role of ...
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The sources examined here describe the conquest of South Arabia and Arabia Deserta by Ḥimyar, and the relationship between Ḥimyar and the tribes of Arabia. The chapter also considers the role of Ḥimyar in the conflict between Rome and Persia, and provides an epigraphic perspective on famous events such as the massacre at Najrān in 523. The texts also shed light on the form of Judaism adopted by the kings of Ḥimyar in the fourth century, on the conflict between Ḥimyar and Aksūm, and on the rule of the last great king of Ḥimyar, Abraha. A number of these texts appear here in English translation for the first time.Less
The sources examined here describe the conquest of South Arabia and Arabia Deserta by Ḥimyar, and the relationship between Ḥimyar and the tribes of Arabia. The chapter also considers the role of Ḥimyar in the conflict between Rome and Persia, and provides an epigraphic perspective on famous events such as the massacre at Najrān in 523. The texts also shed light on the form of Judaism adopted by the kings of Ḥimyar in the fourth century, on the conflict between Ḥimyar and Aksūm, and on the rule of the last great king of Ḥimyar, Abraha. A number of these texts appear here in English translation for the first time.
Peter Edwell, Greg Fisher, Geoffrey Greatrex, Conor Whately, and Philip Wood
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199654529
- eISBN:
- 9780191801433
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199654529.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter focuses on the role played by Arab militia generally, and the Jafnids and Naṣrids specifically, in the sixth- and early seventh-century phase of Rome’s competition with Persia, played ...
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This chapter focuses on the role played by Arab militia generally, and the Jafnids and Naṣrids specifically, in the sixth- and early seventh-century phase of Rome’s competition with Persia, played out in Mesopotamia and in South Arabia. A number of the texts discussed here complement the epigraphic material in Chapter 3, as well as the Arabic and Persian texts in Chapter 8.Less
This chapter focuses on the role played by Arab militia generally, and the Jafnids and Naṣrids specifically, in the sixth- and early seventh-century phase of Rome’s competition with Persia, played out in Mesopotamia and in South Arabia. A number of the texts discussed here complement the epigraphic material in Chapter 3, as well as the Arabic and Persian texts in Chapter 8.
