Ethiopian history timeline

To the 13th century AD. The kingdom of Aksum. The dynasty of Solomon. Menelik II. The kingdom of Aksum: from the 5th century BC The story of the Queen of sheba links her with Ethiopia in a legend which echoes historical reality. The Ethiopian national epic, Kebra Nagast 'Glory of Kings' , records the tradition that Solomon and the Queen of sheba have a son, Menelik, who comes to Ethiopia to found the royal dynasty.

Sheba, now known as Saba, is at the narrow mouth of the Red Sea, only twenty-five miles from the coast of Africa. From about the 10th century BC Sabaeans migrate in increasing numbers across this strait. By perhaps the 5th century they are sufficiently numerous and powerful to establish Ethiopia's first civilization - the Semitic kingdom of Aksum.

The kingdom of Aksum lasts for a millennium and more. Towards the end of that time, in the 4th century AD, its close links with the Red Sea ports full of Greek merchants trading with the Roman empire result in an imported creed which will profoundly influence the rest of Ethiopian history. The country becomes Christian.

When was ethiopia founded

In a document of there is a mention of Frumentius, the first bishop of Ethiopia. He is consecrated in Alexandria the beginning of a lasting link between Ethiopia and the Coptic church of Egypt. Tradition says that Frumentius is a young Christian, captured and brought to Aksum, who persuades the king to allow Greeks to build churches in his kingdom.