Axum (ax-uhm)
300-600 AD. Kingdom located below Nubia along the Red Sea. Later known as Ethiopia (ee-theeoh-pee-uh). The region is still part of the modern day country by the same name. Center for trade
with Greece, Egypt, Arabia, and India with iron, spices, gold, cotton cloth, and slaves being the
main products. Established Christianity as the main religion of the state. In the 600's, Muslim
influence spread across North Africa. Axum became somewhat isolated from their
Mediterranean trading partners. This weakened Axum and it lost influence.
Kilwa (kill-wah)
the most successful of the independent trading cities.
Buildings are know for their beauty and the quality of
construction. Many still stand today.
Mogadishu (moh-guh-dish-oo)
Mombasa (mohm-bah-suh); Sofala (so-fah-lah); other
important trading cities along the African coast.
Established by Persian and Arab traders leaving a
strong Muslim influence.
Swahili (swah-hee-lee)
Zimbabwe (zim-bob-way)
An African language developed and used in the
trading states. Having the same language made it
easier for traders to communicate and do business.
an inland empire that was a center for inland trade in
Africa. It provided a link to the coastal trading cities.
Famous for the stone construction used for houses,
palaces, and defensive walls.