Axum Empire: Modern Day Ethiopia, Africa

Hammurabi is often referred to as the most influential king Babylonia ever had. While Hammurabi is well known, his influence on the people of Babylonia is often overlooked. During his rule, Hammurabi made many changes to improve the lives of those who lived in Babylonia. Overall, as the king of Babylonia, Hammurabi made an everlasting impact on Mesopotamia.

One way to recognize a thriving kingdom is to look at its trade and economy. Africa’s empires had a trade system that allowed their economy to flourish. “Ancient Ghana was an extremely complex empire. It possessed many of the characteristics of powerful nations today...wealth based off trade” (Document 3). The trade system relied on key trading centers, such as Aksum (present-day Ethiopia), “Aksum reached its height between 325 and 360” (Doc 1). Aksum was valuable due to its location, which was near the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. Cooperation played a major role in the trade, as all the empires needed goods and wealth. A good example is Ghana, “The Arab traders of

The civilizations that flourished in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Palestine were located in river valleys or along the Mediterranean coast. These civilizations developed highly complex cultures that shared many common characteristics.

In Africa during the Post-Classical era, 600-1450 CE, the Saharan was no longer a barren wasteland hardly suitable for travel, but, an essential part of both North African and Sub-Saharan West African societies. Camels and caravans allowed for quicker and more effective traveling. With trading becoming increasingly popular in this area, it provided the resources to build new and larger political structures. During this era, Africa’s economy began to change and the western part of Sub-Saharan was no different. With the Trans-Saharan trade routes ability to increase with the help of wealthier Islamic states, it allowed for the spread of religious and political ideas such as larger empires and the Islamic faith in which both greatly influenced

During the ancient world, an empire was a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire. To make a successful empire, it needs a healthy mixture of military, a strong efficient leader, a sturdy government, religion, trade or spread of ideas, and social ranking.

During the period of imperialism in Africa all of the countries were competing for the title of being the richest and the strongest. In fact, the whole scramble for Africa was an opportunity for countries to enhance their overall economy. For example, King Leopold II of Belgium was determined to get the area of land so he can become more wealthy. France’s politicians thought that an overseas company would strengthen the country when it came to wealth, prestige, and power, so as a result they invested in land more toward the west and north-west. Britain wanted to protect their trading routes which required them to purchase land in East Africa, and they they soon discovered the rewards of the land so the were determined to obtain as much as possible.

The definition of imperialism is an action by a strong nation to take control of another country.

Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt were two early human civilizations that lived during the bronze age in harsh desert environments located not far from each other. Both civilizations were built around rivers that they depended on for survival. There is evidence that these rivers had great influence on both the societies politics and culture. Egypt was built around the very strong and reliable Nile River. Ancient Mesopotamia was established in the fertile crescent between the less reliable Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. During the bronze age both Ancient Mesopotamians and Ancient Egyptians developed forms of religion that highly reflected their habitat. They had many similarities in their politics even though they had completely different forms of government. Both societies were also known for their discoveries in art and technology. They developed their own forms of writing, different tools and architecture.

Civilizations in Africa and the Americas had very different experiences concerning trade, government and economic opportunities. Axum, emerging at around 50 CE, and Meroe, flourishing in 300 BCE, both appearing on the eastern half of Africa, had connections to the Eurasian empires and large domesticated animals to use in their specialized, imperial economies, while civilizations such as Maya, materializing cultural achievements in 250 CE, and Teotihuacan, developing in 150 BCE, had very little acculturation and no pastoral opportunities. Although Meroe, Axum, Maya and Teotihuacan had several differences including Meroe and Axum’s single, imperial monarch and extensive trading connections in comparison to Maya and Teotihuacan’s elite centered

The African Kingdoms had many achievements before the Europeans arrived around 1500. The three major kingdoms were Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. These kingdoms focused mainly on trading with surrounding kingdoms, and because of this they were considered very successful. Many therefore call the consider the achievements of the African Trading Kingdoms to be a major success. Some major achievements of these kingdoms are forming a trading web, creating an advanced economical and social structure, and forming a way of communication with other groups that speak other languages.

The Ancient Egyptian culture dates all the way back to 5500 BCE to the time where there were pharos that ruled the lands. Ancient Egypt is one of the very first recorded civilizations with a very distinct way of life. They have traditions that have been passed down and influenced other cultures around the world. The earliest records of Ancient Mesopotamia culture dates back to around 3100 BCE. Mesopotamia had four different empires that was included in it. Those four empires were Assyria, Akkadia, Sumer and Babylonia. The four of those empires were in the lands of what today is known as Iraq.

The Assyrians are a group of people that came from the northern part of Mesopotamia. Their flat, exposed land made them easy for other people to attack them. The empire lasted from about 850 B.C. to 612 B.C. It is believed that they may have developed their warlike behavior in response to invasions. Through constant warfare, Assyrian kings were able to eventually build an empire that stretched from east and north of the Tigris River all the way to central Egypt. The Assyrians were all in all, a powerful empire

During 600 BCE and 600 CE, many countries was going through a drastic change. When analyzing early civilizations, it’s evident there is similarities and differences. The Middle East, China, and Africa were among few countries that advanced during this aeon. All of these empires within the countries have risen and fallen, developing these civilizations to what we know of today.

Kelsey Schumann took a trip back in time to visit and ancient civilization named Assyria. Assyria was a region in the Near East which reached from Mesopotamia through Asia Minor and then down through Egypt. It lasted through 1900 BCE- 650 CE. The empire began at the city of Ashur ,located North-East of Babylon. Kelsey says, "I traveled to this point in time to see the wonderful city of Ashur. I was told stories of how Assyrians had accepted Christianity and how they spoke Aramaic".

Africa before 1500 ce was a time where many events happened that changed the civilization of Africa forever. Africa invented trades, cultures, traditions, and so many other things that affected Africa in many ways. There is a huge timeline that explains all the events that happen in Africa, what year they happen, and why they happen in the first place. Africa along with other certain continents had major events happened before 1500 ce. Since I chose Africa I will be explaining what was Africa before 1500 ce.