Dyneisha Perkins
November 13, 2012
College Composition I (WISE)
Prof. Peterson
Cultural Analysis Paper
Ancient Aksum
The Reasons Christianity is More Dominate than Islam Religion.
In ancient Askum(Axum), modern day Ethiopia, the church was one of the most essential
aspects in Ethiopians everyday life. In the history of ancient Askum, Christianity became the
most dominate religion and more wide-spread than the religion of Islam. But the real question is,
why Christianity wide spread in Askum opposed to the Islamic religion did? It is evident that
Christianity was more wide spread then than Islam because of European influences, Aksum’s
government, and Islam’s underdevelopment. Due to the lack of religious developments in this
century, persuasion and influence redundant played a major role on the many choices of the
people. 1 Why the source after you’ve stated your thesis?
Announce the topic first. Eg., European influence brought Christian beliefs among
ancient Askum’s citizens. In the fourth century, there was a massive change of religious beliefs.
The reason for the large change of religious belief was because of the influence the Europeans
had on the Aksum’s citizens. The first turning point occurred during the Aksum’s international
trades with the Europeans across the Red Sea. Merchants exchanged more than raw materials
and finished goods in Aksum, they shared ideas as well. One of these ideas was a new religion,
Christianity. Aksum became one of the most important trading nations in Africa influencing
1
B r i a n F a r g h e r , The Orgins of the new church movement in southern ethiopia, (Claredon: Oxford, 1996), 2-5.
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more people to eventually move their or come often to trade resources. Majority of Europeans
practiced Christianity, so it was almost always that the Ethiopians heard or saw the Christian
ways of life. Oblivious to any other religious beliefs than their own? , Ethiopians began to gain
interest in this religion. 2 Never end a supporting paragraph with a citation.
The second reason for what? was the influence of King Ezana ruler of the Axumite
kingdom. After Ezana’s encounter with Frumentius, the first bishop in Aksum, he decided to
switch his religion which had a massive effect on the Ethiopian people. King Ezana made
Christianity the official state religion. This was perhaps his most important contribution to
Ethiopian culture. Many Christian churches began to expand through part of Aksum causing
many people to gain knowledge of Christianity. Ethiopia became a majority Orthodox Christian
country and predominantly all Christians belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox church. 3
During this time citizens didn’t really have minds of their own so they were easily influenced.
Any one of relevance or a title would be able to lead them in the correct direction. Aksum's
currency also served as a vessel of propaganda demonstrating the kingdom's wealth but most
importantly promoting the national religion. Since Aksum was a popular trading route the
Axumite government developed currency and this too had a major effect on the religious
viewpoint. King Ezana made the cross the religious symbol of the currency in Aksum. Many
people began having interaction with the money and became interested in the symbols and began
to ascertain its meanings. Connect.
Transition needed. Is this the point about Islamic underdevelopment? Topic should signal
that. Muslims would always conduct a trading of products and good with the people of Aksum.
Although Ezana made the state religion of Axum, Christianity, in the 600 ADs, Muslims tried to
2
3
Oyvind Eide, Revolution and Religion in Ethiopia , (Athens: Ohio University Press, 2000), chap. 6.
Crispin Paine, "Material Religion," Ancient Churches of Ethiopia/ Ethiopian crosses, 6, no. 1 (2010): 121-122,.
2
conquer the countries and kingdoms in Africa. Muslims would travel by the Red Sea frequently
over into the Axumite kingdom. Due to their visits, it gave them more exposure and opened the
eyes and minds of the people of Islam. According to Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, “linked
to the Red Sea trade routes by its port city of Adulis, Aksum itself was situated further inland,
perhaps to allow for better control of the ivory that was one of its most lucrative exports.
Aksumite ties through Adulis to the Red Sea would remain vital to the kingdom throughout its
history, a factor that contributed to Aksum's decline in the seventh century when increasing
Muslim dominance of the region cut off access to international trade.” 4 Is this a cut/paste job?
Why the highlight? Although many Ethiopians joined Muslim religion after they had exposure of
it, Christianity remained more dominatedominant?. Christianity was a religion that was way more
established at this time in history, and Islam was just beginning to augment emerge? so not many
people knew about it. The Muslims that were coming over tried to spread their religious beliefs
but they didn’t provide much evidence on the history of their religion. They also didn’t have
anyone of power to represent what they were standing for. 5 Connect. YOU drive the point home,
not the source.
TRI needed In ancient Aksum, a majority of who? was were Christian therefore being a
Christian was to have a feel of belonging.??? Lead into quoted material. “Ezana’s inscriptions
may also indicate that Christianity became the religion of the ruling class…” WHERE is the
citation? There were very little places for the Islamic people to practice their religion, therefore
majority preferred to be Christian anyway. For the most part Aksum was leaning toward
Christianity in many different aspects of the culture. Christian churches were the only places in
4
5
Thomas Campbell, Metropolitan Museum of Art , "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History ," http://www.metmuseum.org/.
Kirwan L.P, "The Geographical Journal," The Christian Topography and the kingdom of Axum, 138, no. 2 (1972): 166-178,
3
Ethiopia where citizens could have a word with God, and praise about something that they
believed was a higher power than them. Since there were only Christian churches accessible, they
were limited to one access of holy worship. This only leads them to discovering and learning one
faith. Only a small amount of people knew of the Islamic religion as I stated before. Missionaries
easily converted what were known as “Islamic religious people” into something they believed to
be. Due to King Ezana converting to Christianity and the lack of Islamic presence in the
government, people began leaning toward the Christian faith.6 So, what do YOU have to say
about that? Are all of your points summarized here?
Good job on citing your sources in this draft, since they were omitted in the first. I knew you
could cite.
This is incomplete, however. . It should be at least 3 ½ pages, not 2 ¾ pages.
6
Hahhai Erlich, Saudi Arabia, (Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc., 2007), chap. 1.
4
Formatted: Highlight
Bibliography
Campbell, Thomas. Metropolitan Museum of Art , "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History ."
http://www.metmuseum.org/. This is not a bibliographic entry.
Formatted: Font: (Default) +Body, 11 pt
Erlich, Hahhai. Saudi Arabia. ColoradoCITY of publication.: Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc.,
2007.
Eide, Oyvind. Revolution and Religion in Ethiopia . Athens: Ohio University Press, 2000.
Fargher, Brian . The Orgins of the new church movement in southern ethiopia. Claredon: Oxford,
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
1996.
Formatted: Highlight
L.P, Kirwan. "The Geographical Journal." The Christian Topography and the kingdom of Axum.
Formatted: Font: Not Italic, Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
138. no. 2 (1972): 166-178. This is NOT in CMS. The journal title comes after the article
title. Reverse it.
Paine, Crispin. "Material Religion." Ancient Churches of Ethiopia/ Ethiopian crosses. 6. no. 1
Formatted: Font: Not Italic, Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
(2010): 121-122.
Formatted: Font: Not Italic, Highlight
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