Aksum - African civilization of Late Antiquity 3600-AF-AACLA-OG

1. Lecture content and literature. Basic information about Ethiopia and Eritrea. Geography of Ethiopia with special emphasis on the province of Tigray.
2. External sources for the history of Aksum. History of the "discovery" of Aksum and archaeological research (most important excavation campaigns).
3. Archaeology of the Horn of Africa before the foundation of Aksum. Sabaean expansion in Africa (Yeha).
4. Political history of Aksum. Written sources (inscriptions, coins). Succession of rulers.
5. Aksum - historical topography of the city.
6. Monumental architecture (palaces, churches). Urban planning.
7. Funeral buildings (tombs, stelae, cemeteries).
8. Material culture (ceramics, metallurgy, stone products).
9. Numismatics.
10. The population of Aksum in the light of archaeological data. Agriculture and pastoralism. Ethnic composition, social stratification.
11. The army and the military. Military expeditions.
12. Foreign contacts: Southern Arabia, Meroe, Egypt, India, Byzantium. Foreign trade.
13. Pre-Christian religion of Aksum. Circumstances of Christianization.
14. Orthodox Christianity in Aksum. Ge'ez literature in the Aksumite period.
15. Circumstances of the fall of Aksum. Northern Ethiopia in the "Dark Ages" (7th-11th centuries). Rock churches of Tigray. Transfer of the center of power to Lasta.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Course coordinators

Marcin Krawczuk

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student will:
- know basic information about the history and culture of the state Aksum
- be able to indicate and interpret written sources concerning Aksum
- be able to identify the most important monuments produced by the Aksum civilization
- be initially prepared for independent work at sites related to the Aksum civilization

Assessment criteria

Preparation of a written paper on a topic agreed with the instructor
Oral examination of the entire material
Participation (the student should attend at least 50% of all classes)

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3600-AF-AACLA-OG in USOSweb