"Focuses on the Aksumite state of the first millennium AD in northern Ethiopia and southern Eritrea, its development, florescence and eventual transformation into the so-called medieval civilisation of Christian Ethiopia. This book seeks to apply a common methodology, utilising archaeology, art-history, written documents and oral tradition from a wide variety of sources; the result is a far greater emphasis on continuity than previous studies have revealed. It is thus a major re-interpretation of a key development in Ethiopia's past, while raising and discussing methodological issues of the relationship between archaeology and other historical disciplines; these issues, which have theoretical significance extending far beyond Ethiopia, are discussed in full. The last millennium BC is seen as a time when northern Ethiopia and parts of Eritrea were inhabited by farming peoples whose ancestry may be traced far back into the local 'Late Stone Age'. Colonisation from southern Arabia, to which defining importance has been attached by earlier researchers, is now seen to have been brief in duration and small in scale, its effects largely restricted to ľite sections of the community. Re-consideration of inscriptions shows the need to abandon the established belief in a single 'Pre-Aksumite' state. New evidence for the rise of Aksum during the last centuries BC is critically evaluated. Finally, new chronological precision is provided for the decline of Aksum and the transfer of centralised political authority to more southerly regions. A new study of the ancient churches - both built and rock-hewn - which survive from this poorly-understood period emphasises once again a strong degree of continuity across periods that were previously regarded as distinct."--Publisher's website.

Embark on a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of African history with John G. Jackson's groundbreaking work, Introduction to African Civilizations. This comprehensive volume explores the magnificent civilizations that flourished on the African continent long before the advent of European colonization. From the awe-inspiring pyramids of ancient Egypt to the sophisticated city-states of West Africa, Jackson's meticulously researched and elegantly written book unveils the untold stories of Africa's glorious past. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for truth, Jackson challenges long-held misconceptions and sheds light on the remarkable achievements of African peoples, making this book an essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of world history.

This book considers the evidence for actual contacts between Egypt and other early African cultures, and how influential, or not, Egypt was on them.

This publication moves the discussion beyond the vagueness of ethnicity to the reality of African empowerment.