Article: Bridging two worlds: The Aksum-Arabia Axis: The importance and influence of Aksum, an ancient empire that once held sway over both sides of the Red Sea.

SEPARATED AT THE closest point by just the 50km width of the Bab Al Mandeb straits, southern Arabia and Africa have historic ties that date back to the rise of one of Africa's greatest ancient civilisations. Aksum (or Axum in modern spelling) is best known to the outside world for the enormous monolithic stelae or obelisks that were erected during the third and fourth centuries AD. These mark the tombs of the ruling elite of a truly remarkable people that controlled commerce and trade routes from Africa's interior across the Red Sea.

Aksum's foundations are thought to have originated as early as 500BC although relatively little archaeological work has been ...

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