Christian Kingdoms In Ethiopia

1
Christian Kingdoms In Ethiopia

• By Nick and Jazz

2
Christian Kingdoms Overview

• Ethiopian Kingdom and Nubian Kingdom
• Influences of Christianity in Ethiopia.
• The first Ethiopian states in the 13th 14th
  centuries.
• The Foundation of Bet Giorgis and King Lalibela.

3
The different Kingdoms Egypt Copts

• Christian Communities Thrived in Egypt and
  Nubia.
• The Copts were able to maintain a rich tradition
  and contact with the Byzantium Empire.
• They split up from Byzantine connection because
  Egypt was conquered by Arab armies and later
  converted to Islam.

4
The Kingdom of Nubia

• In a desert region and ancient kingdom in the
  Nile River valley of southern Egypt and northern
  Sudan and it was based on the Coptic influence of
  Egypt.
• After the 20th century B.C. it was controlled by
  the rulers of Egypt, although in the 8th and 7th
  centuries an independent kingdom arose that
  conquered Egypt and ruled as the XXV Dynasty
  (712-663).
• It Converted to Christianity in the 6th century
  A.D., Nubia united with Ethiopia but fell to the
  Muslims in the 14th century. Much of the region
  was flooded by the completion of the Aswan High
  Dam in the 1960s.

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Map of Nubian Kingdom
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Ethiopian Kingdom and its Influences to Christian
faith

• Ethiopian Kingdom
• Grew from Axum
• Axum- kingdom that was conquered by Ethiopia and
  the Arabian Solders made them eventually convert
  to Christianity.
• Axum was the most Important African Christian
  outpost.
• Ethiopia was influenced by Pagan and Jewish
  converts.

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Location of Axum
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Ethiopian Kingdom The Rise of Islam

• The spread of Islam in the Mediterranean, the
  Middle East, Northern Africa and coastal parts of
  the Eastern Africa.
• continuously isolated Axum culturally and
  commercially from the remainder of the Christian
  world.
• particularly the Byzantine Empire.
• In response to Islamic expansion around the
  Axumite kingdom and the subsequent loss of their
  maritime trade routes, the Axumites turned their
  attention to the northern Ethiopian highlands.
• spreading the kingdom southward. 

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Predominantly Muslim Countries
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The First Ethiopian states in the 13th and 14th
century

• In later 13th and 14th centuries the Red Sea
  Kingdoms became the first states of Ethiopia.
• The Red Sea Kingdoms included Saudi Arabia.
• Christian state emerges
• Under dynasty that traced its origins back to the
  biblical marriage of Solomon and Sheba.
• This state maintained its brand of Christianity
  in isolation while facing pressure form
  increasing Muslim neighbors.

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Map of Ethiopian Kingdom
12
The Catholic Church

• Bet Giorgis
• 13th century church
• Represented the power of early Christianity in
  Ethiopia.
• One of a great complex of 11 churches That king
  Lalibela believed God had commanded him to build.
• Dedicated to St. George (patron saint of
  Ethiopia)
• Architecture
• Cut out of bedrock from the earth and its top was
  in the shape of a giant cross that lies at ground
  level.
• Surrounded by impassible walls, it was reached
  by underground tunnel carved in stone.
• Still used as a place for worship today.

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Key Terminology

• Copts- Christian section of Egypt that tended to
  support Islamic invasions of this area in
  preference to Byzantine rule.
• Lalibela- King that believed that God commanded
  him to build The Bet Giorgis.
• Nubia- A dessert region and ancient kingdom in
  the Nile river valley of southern Egypt and
  Northern Sudan.
• Religious conversion- The adoption of a new
  religious belief that differed from the persons
  last belief.

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Picture citations

• http//www.ethioembassy.org.uk/business/Business2
  0in20Ethiopia20by20Pricewaterhouse/Ethiopia.htm
  
• churchhttp//www.sacredsites.com/africa/ethiopia/i
  mages/looking-down-bet-giorgis-500.jpg
• http//wysinger.homestead.com/nubians10.html
• http//www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/map.
  html
• http//www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/1179
  4/87705/