• The Blemmyes were a nomadic Tribe from the deserts and mountains of Kush, south of Egypt.
• They developed a powerful army and occupied Egypt several times between 250-280 CE, during the Crisis of the Third Century.

History

• In 250 CE, the Blemmyes made their first invasion of Egypt, but they were persuaded to leave.
• In 253 CE, they invaded again and reached Lower Egypt, but were defeated.
• In 265 CE, the Blemmyes invaded, but were repulsed by Firmus, the Prefect of Egypt.
• In 273 CE, they allied themselves with Firmus in his rebellion against the Roman Empire, and again occupied Lower Egypt.
• Between 279-280 CE, the army of the Blemmyes was almost annihilated by the Generals of the Roman Emperor Probus.
• However, after a further invasion, Diocletian concluded a Treaty in 298 CE, which provided an annual tribute to be paid to the Blemmyes.

Kush

• The Aksumite Empire (c. 100-940 CE) also known as the Kingdom of Axum, covered the area of northern Ethiopia and Eritrea.
• It was considered by the Persian Mani (216-274 CE), to be the fourth great World Empire, along with Rome, Persia and China.

History

• The capital was at Aksum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where they minted their own currency.
• They invaded Kush (modern Sudan) around c.350 CE which then became their client kingdom.
• The Aksumite Empire was on a trade route between the Roman Empire, Persia, India and Africa.
• As the Roman Empire declined, they took control of the Trade with India in the southern Red Sea.
• In 525 CE they invaded the Himyarite Kingdom (modern Yemen).

Christianity

• The Aksumite Empire adopted Christianity in either 325 or 328 CE, under King Ezana.
• Frumentius was made Bishop of Axum in either 328 CE or 340-346 CE, and converted the Aksumite Empire to Christianity, acting on behalf of Athanasius, the Patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt.

The Stelae of Axum

• Aksum has seven tall standing stone Obelisks called Stelae, the tallest of which has a height of 70 ft (21m).

Red Sea Ports

Adulis

• • During the first century CE, King Zoskales ruled from Aksum.
  • He controlled Adulis mentioned by Pliny the Elder as a port trading in Ivory, Hides and Slaves.
  • The Aksumite Empire used Adulis for its base as a Sea Power. When it invaded the Himyarite Kingdom in 525 CE, it was from this base.
  • Adulis controlled the Pearl fisheries of the Dahlak Archipelago, whose pearls were famous in the Roman Empire along with its Tortoiseshell.

Assab

• • This Port was located closer to the Bab el Mandeb Strait.

Aksum, Ethiopia

• Azania was the East African Coast, which included the coasts of modern Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania.
• Rhapta was considered the capital of Azania, as well as its most southerly port.

Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

• It was mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea written in the first century CE.
• In the third century CE reference, the Chinese, who were also trading with Azania, referred it as ‘Zesan’.
• The name Azania is preserved in the name of the modern State of Tanzania.

Trade with the Roman Empire

• Azania is mentioned by the Periplus as being subject to the Sabaean Kingdom, an Ally of Rome, whose Capital was at Marib, Yemen, and whose main port was Aden.
• The Ports of Azania traded with the Yemen, Egypt, the Persian Gulf and the Roman Empire, and also India.

The Port of Rhapta

• The Periplus describes Rhapta as the last port of Azania, two days south of the Menouthias Islands.
• The exports varied from Ivory to exotic animals for the Roman Games.
• To reach Rhapta, vessels had to cross the Equator.

The Red Sea Route to India

• Strabo stated that 120 Ships sailed from Myos Hormos to India, every year. Ships usually left Egypt in June or July in order to reach the Indian Ocean and take advantage of the Monsoon which reached India around the first week of June. The Journey took about 3 to 6 weeks.

• The Fleet returned from India when the Monsoon reversed direction. This started in the last week of October and lasted through November, so the fleet arrived back in Egypt in December or January.
• Navigation from the mouth of the Red Sea to the Indian Coast is basically East west, no compass was required, since vessels could follow the path of the Sun by day, and navigate by Polaris by night.

The Red Sea Route to Africa

• Chapters 1-18 of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea describe the Route from Berenice down to the East Coast of Africa, known as Azania.
• The Periplus describes Rhapta as the last port of Azania, being two days south of the Menouthias Islands, which was most probably the Zanzibar Archipelago.
  • Berenice, Egypt
  • Adulis, and Avalites, Ethiopia
  • Opone, Somalia, known as the centre of the Cinnamon trade.
  • Malao, Somalia.
  • Menouthias Islands
  • Rhapta
    • Capital of Azania – the area including the coasts of Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia. Azania is mentioned by the Periplus as being subject to the Sabaean Kingdom, an Ally of Rome.

Ptolemy’s map (c.150 CE) showed the Source of the Nile

• The Cartographer Ptolemy based his world map on a previous map drawn by Marinus of Tyre.
• Marinus recorded that during the first century CE, a Greek Merchant called Diogenes, returning from India, landed near Rhapta on the east coast of Africa, known as Azania.
• After travelling inland for 25 days, he arrived at two great inland lakes and, at what the locals called the Mountains of the Moon, because their peaks were covered in snow. and described this area as the source of the river Nile.

The Location of the Mountains of the Moon

• The Mountains of the Moon are usually considered to be the snow capped Ruwenzori Mountains in Uganda.
• They may also refer to Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania, the highest Mountain in Africa, which is also covered in snow all year round.

Ruwenzori Mountains