Key learning points

1. Christian Churches did not just emerge in the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.
2. In Aksum, an important trading kingdom near the Red Sea, Christianity became the dominant religion in the 4th century.
3. Sources such as coins, Ezana's stela and the Ezana Stone, suggest that this took place during the rule of King Ezana.
4. In Ethiopia today, many Aksumite churches have been found carved into rocky mountainsides.
5. Inside these churches the walls are covered with beautiful paintings of Christian stories.

Keywords

• Trade - people trade by buying or selling items they need or want

• Missionary - a missionary is a religious person who is sent to other places to tell others about that religion

Common misconception