In the 3rd century AD a Persian commentator described the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum as one of the most powerful civilizations in the world, third only to Persia and Rome. This volume provides a detailed survey of Aksum's architecture, artistic life, material culture, history and religion. It contains a chronology for the first seven centuries of the civilization, based upon the author's access to the largest collection of Aksumite gold coins in the world. The aim of the text is to place the Aksumite kingdom as one of the most important in African and world history.



