Christianity in Axum in a global perspective: the cases of Frumentius and Ezana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18764/1983-2850v18n52e25970Keywords:
Ezana, Frumentius, Aksum, Global HistoryAbstract
Axum was a kingdom located in northeaster Africa, in the Horn of Africa region. Because of previous military expansion, Axum was able to access the Red Sea coast in the 4th century. In 334, the aksumite negus Ezana was converted to Christianity by the influence of Frumentus, a Syrian Christian established in Axum. This article focuses on the examination of two textual documents written by authors who were contemporaneous to Ezana and Frumentius: the Ecclesiastical History written by Rufinus of Aquileia, and the Apology to Emperor Constantius authored by Athanasius of Alexandria. The objective of this study is to evaluate references to Axum´s inclusion in global economic, political, religious, and diplomatic networks in passages with references to Frumentius and Aezana. To achieve this objective, the Global History approach is employed, which focuses on forms of integration. The analysis of the two documents in their context revealed that Ezana´s conversion and Frumentius actions were connected to Christian mercantile networks. Additionally, it was found that adherence to Christianity triggered Axum´s mobilization in political-clerical disputes that has been going on since the Roman Empire and that had repercussion on diplomatic relations between reigns and empires.
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