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History of Africa

150 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 155 ratings

Take a deep dive deep into African history with this in-depth podcast. From Casablanca to Cape Town, tune in to this podcast to learn about the magnificent and oft-forgotten history of Africa. To access more free resources about African history, provide feedback, or support the show, check out our associated website at https://historyofafricapodcast.blogspot.com

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Episodes

Season 3 Episode 24 - The Third Anglo-Ashanti War Part 2: the Burning of Kumasi

June 20, 2022 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

As the Ashanti armies retreated back across the Pra River, Kofi Kakari and the Ashanti legislature were forced to admit defeat. They offered to concede on all of the British demands. However, the British commander Garnet Wolesly was not willing to accept these terms. Despite the pleas of others in the British colonial authority, Wolesly decided that there was only one way that the Anglo-Ashanti Wars would end: with the complete destruction of the Ashanti Empire. Notre Dame Stories Stories h...

Season 3 Episode 23: The Third-Anglo Ashanti War Part 1 - The Offensive of 1873

June 06, 2022 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MB

In 1873, Ashanti crowds celebrated as the nation's army marched through the streets of Kumasi. This army was en route to leave the city in a southern direction, where they would invade the British protectorate and force the British to relinquish their claims on Elmina. This celebration would not last long, as the Ashanti offensive of 1873 would soon devolve into a major military humiliation, and open the gates for a far worse fate to befall Asanteman.  Notre Dame Stories Stories highlightin...

Season 3 Episode 22 - The Elmina Controversy

May 23, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MB

When the British annexed the Dutch Gold Coast in 1872, a new conflict kicked off between the Ashanti and British Empires. Allowing the British to possess a complete monopoly on the Ghanaian coast was not an acceptable option for the Ashanti government. In response, the Ashanti government debated its next move. Would it be war? Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn more abou...

Season 3 Episode 21 - The Rise of Kofi Kakari

May 09, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.9 MB

In 1867, Asantehene Kwaku Dua passed away suddenly after four decades of ruling the Ashanti Empire. Shortly after, roving gangs of royal executioners would begin massacring thousands of civilians in Kumasi. Amidst this chaos and violence, an unlikely candidate ascended to the golden stool: a previously minor prince named Kofi Kakari.  Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn m...

Season 3 Episode 20 - The Second Anglo-Ashanti War

April 25, 2022 09:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MB

Much more obscure than its earlier and later wars, the second Anglo-Ashanti war is certainly a fascinating topic. This brief conflict almost ended the British colonial project in Ghana altogether. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 3 Episode 19 - Kwaku Dua Fixes a Broken Empire

April 11, 2022 09:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MB

Following the disastrous rule of Osei Yaw Akoto, the Ashanti Empire was not in its best spot. The refugee crisis of the people of Juaben was on the verge of boiling over into a full-blown civil war, the economy was in terminal decline, and an ever-growing number of Ashanti workers and peasants were becoming relegated to debt slavery. Into this mess rose Kwaku Dua, an obscure diplomat of vague royal birth but with a reputation as a great military and civic leader. He will institute radical ref...

Season 3 Episode 18 - Osei Yaw Akoto and his Troubles with Palm Wine

March 28, 2022 09:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MB

After his humiliating defeat at Katamanso, the asantehene Osei Yaw Akoto attempts to drown his sorrows in Akpeteshie. However, as the king's behaviors become increasingly unhinged, a crisis begins to envelop the Ashanti Empire, leading to the first foundation of New Juaben. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 3 Episode 17 - The First Anglo-Ashanti War Part 2: The Rockets’ Red Glare

March 14, 2022 09:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MB

After decimating a British invasion force at the Battle of Nsamankow, the asantehene Osei Bonsu passed away. The responsibility to finish his war fell to his younger brother Osei Yaw Akoto, who will struggle to live up to the enormous expectations created by his brother's success. At the coming Battle of Katamanso, the British and Ashanti will face off one final time, and the outcome of this battle will determine Ghana's future. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to b...

Season 3 Episode 17 - The First Anglo-Ashanti War Part 2: The Rockets' Red Glare

March 14, 2022 09:00 - 39 minutes

After decimating a British invasion force at the Battle of Nsamankow, the asantehene Osei Bonsu passed away. The responsibility to finish his war fell to his younger brother Osei Yaw Akoto, who will struggle to live up to the enormous expectations created by his brother's success. At the coming Battle of Katamanso, the British and Ashanti will face off one final time, and the outcome of this battle will determine Ghana's future. Notre Dame StoriesStories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a...

Season 3 Episode 16 - The First Anglo Ashanti War Part 1

February 28, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MB

In 1822, two empires clashed in the coastal forests of southern Ghana. When the British Empire dissolved their West African trade company, the previous treaties signed between the Ashanti and the company were made void. The British began to establish treaties of submission with the Ashanti's Fante vassals, provoking the Ashanti kingdom to war. Osei Bonsu mobilized his armies and the two most powerful empires that the region had ever seen met in a true war for the first time. Notre Dame Stor...

Season 3 Episode 16 - The First Anglo Ashanti War

February 28, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MB

In 1822, two empires clashed in the coastal forests of southern Ghana. When the British Empire dissolved their West African trade company, the previous treaties signed between the Ashanti and the company were made void. The British began to establish treaties of submission with the Ashanti's Fante vassals, provoking the Ashanti kingdom to war. Osei Bonsu mobilized his armies and the two most powerful empires that the region had ever seen met in a true war for the first time. Support the show...

Season 3 Episode 15 - Daily Life in the Ashanti Empire

February 14, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MB

Throughout the show, we've covered the lives of Ashanti kings, queens, bureaucrats, merchants, and religious elites. What about the Ashanti average working-class Kwadwo? This episode attempts to paint a picture of the lives, labor, leisure, and education of the average Ashanti subject. *Disclaimer* This episode covers a sensitive issue, namely enslavement. While, obviously, we all have great passion and interest in Ashanti history, we shouldn't let this fascination turn into infatuation. I...

Season 3 Episode 14 - Gyaaman Must Pay

January 31, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MB

Osei Bonsu's rule has already seen the most significant Ashanti conquest in decades, but he's far from done. When the Fante and Akyem rise up in rebellion against Ashanti overlordship in 1811, the asantehene mobilizes another army to reassert control over the south. Meanwhile, a brewing diplomatic crisis in the north, stimulated by the creation of a second golden stool, provoke the Ashanti to assemble the largest army in their history to subjugate their northwestern neighbor.  Notre Dame St...

Season 3 Episode 13 - The Battle of Anomabu

January 17, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MB

In pursuit of rebellious nobles who gravely insulted his family and people, the asantehene Osei Bonsu invades the rival Fante Confederacy. After winning and unprecedented victory over the Fante, his army faces a soon to be recurring foe for the first time: the British Empire.  Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 3 Episode 12 - Osei Kwame, The Muslim Asantehene

January 03, 2022 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MB

With his place on the golden stool in a tenuous position, the young asantehene Osei Kwame secures his power through a series of purges of the Ashanti government. But, despite firmly entrenching his allies in power, Kwame's downfall will come not because of his governmental policy, but his personal religious views. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn more about your ad cho...

Season 3 Episode 12 - Osei Kwame, The Muslim Asantehene

January 03, 2022 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MB

With his place on the golden stool in a tenuous position, the young asantehene Osei Kwame secures his power through a series of purges of the Ashanti government. But, despite firmly entrenching his allies in power, Kwame's downfall will come not because of his governmental policy, but his personal religious views. The Proffitt Podcast Learn how to create content with confidence! Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

Season 3 Episode 11 - Queen Mother Konadu

December 20, 2021 10:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MB

In the years following the death of the reformer king Osei Kwadwo, the Ashanti Empire once again regressed into a period of political instability. In 1777, two factions vied to place their favorite candidate on the golden stool. The two factions generally fell along lines of class and religion. On the one hand, the entrenched nobility and governmental establishment supported Konadu Yaadom, a politically ambitious woman who acted as the bridge between multiple dynastic families. On the other ...

Season 3 Episode 10 - The Abura Crisis

December 06, 2021 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MB

Asantehene Osei Kwadwo attempts to reintegrate the lost Ashanti conquests of Wasa and Akyem. To do this, he must pry them away from their premiere ally - the Fante confederation. To show good will to the Fantes, he sends his close relatives, Osei and Danso, to the Fantes as hostages. However, when relations between the two states deteriorate and war seems to approach, Osei and Danso are suddenly put into grave danger. Yep, it's basically a political drama from 18th Century Ghana.  Notre Dam...

Season 3 Episode 9 - The Kwadwoan Revolution

November 22, 2021 10:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MB

The late 18th Century was a period of revolutions throughout the world, and the Ashanti Empire was no different. After the unpopular asantehene, Kusi Obodom, is impeached and removed from power, a new king is elected by an assembly of citizens in Kumasi. The newly elected asantehene, Osei Kwadwo, will prove himself to be the most energetic, active, and radical reformer in Ashanti history.  His rule will go down in history as the Kwadwoan Revolution, and no institution in Ashanti society wil...

Season 3 Episode 8 - The Dahomey War

November 08, 2021 10:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MB

The Ashanti's Akwamu allies, after decades of gradual decline and infighting, are conquered by emerging Dahomey Empire. Later, when the Ashanti catch the Dahomey supporting their enemies in the south, the hawkish Ashanti nobleman Appiah Odankua urges the Asantehene to order a punitive invasion of Dahomey. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Season 3 Episode 7 - Kusi Obodom - The Enlightened King of Ashanti?

October 25, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MB

When the old Asantehene passes away, the regional governors and bureaucrats of the Ashanti Empire find that their tensions can no longer be contained to political meddling. The Ashanti are soon engulfed in a true civil war for the first time. The man who emerges from this war the victor, Kusi Obodom, will prove to be one of Ashanti's most well regarded, if not necessarily its most effective, ruler.  Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the worl...

Season 3 Episode 6 - Opoku Ware - The Empire Builder

October 11, 2021 09:00 - 24 minutes - 17.3 MB

With Osei Tutu killed in action, the Ashanti descend into an extended succession dispute. As chaos envelopes the Ashanti, their capital is sacked by a foreign invasion, leading to a compromise to enstool a new king. The new asantehene was a teenager named Opoku Ware. While nobody knew it yet, the teenage king would eventually go on to double the empire's territory and lead the Ashanti to an early peak. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the w...

Season 3 Episode 5 - The Ashanti Empire is Born at Feyiase

September 27, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MB

At the small village of Feyiase, the Ashanti and Denkyira armies would clash. The outcome changed the history of Ghana and the world. However, while Osei Tutu's leadership on the battlefield would be his most famous trait, his legacy runs even deeper than that. Join us as we discuss not only his conquests, but his forward thinking civic reforms that ensured that his empire would outlive him. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Lis...

Season 3 Episode 4 - A New Ashanti Army

September 13, 2021 09:00 - 19 minutes - 13.8 MB

After returning to his capital of Kumasi after years in exile, the new king of the Oyoko Tribe, Osei Tutu, begins constructing a new army to fight the inevitable war against his Denkyira foes. He will be aided by his own group of Akwamu advisors and bodyguards, and will succeed in turning the Ashanti army from a collection of feudal mercenaries into a united, professional, tactically modern military. But what did this new Ashanti Army look like? Support the show Learn more about your ad ch...

Season 3 Episode 3 - The Kingdom of Kumasi

August 30, 2021 09:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MB

On this episode, we look at the humble beginnings of what would eventually become the Ashanti empire, including the origins of its dominant tribal family, the beginnings of Ashanti unity, and the foundation of its most important city. At this early state in the Ashanti Empire's metamorphosis, the Ashanti were still ruled by independent city states. However, one city state, Kumasi, was slowly establishing itself as the political, economic, and military hegemon of the Ashanti.  Apologies if t...

Season 3 Episode 2 - The Denkyira Empire

August 16, 2021 09:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MB

During this episode, we will track the evolution of the town of Jukwaa from small trading post into the capital of the largest empire that southern Ghana had ever seen. We'll also closely examine and dissect the impact of the arrival of European merchants on the Ghanaian coast, the economic effect of trade with Europe on West Africa, and the origins of the slave trade. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts  ...

Season 3 Episode 1 - Ghana’s Migration Period

August 02, 2021 09:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MB

Before the meteoric rise of the Ashanti Empire of southern Ghana could begin, first the region of Ghana had to be peopled. And, throughout the 10th to 14th centuries, the region was settled by multiple waves of new migrants, including the ancestors of the Akan, Dagomba, and Ga-Dangbe. Learn how, why, and to what affect these people migrated to Ghana, as well as the implications that these migrations had on the rest of West African history. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices....

Season 3 Episode 1 - Ghana's Migration Period

August 02, 2021 09:00 - 20 minutes

Before the meteoric rise of the Ashanti Empire of southern Ghana could begin, first the region of Ghana had to be peopled. And, throughout the 10th to 14th centuries, the region was settled by multiple waves of new migrants, including the ancestors of the Akan, Dagomba, and Ga-Dangbe. Learn how, why, and to what affect these people migrated to Ghana, as well as the implications that these migrations had on the rest of West African history. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Episode 30 - Closing the Book + Season 3 announcement!

July 28, 2021 19:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MB

This is just a short little episode that answers some viewer questions about Aksum, including questions about the Ge'ez language, the Aksumite-Roman relationship, and Ethiopian saints. Also features an announcement regarding next season. Support the show (https://patreon.com/historyofafrica)

Season 2 Episode 20 - Closing the Book + Season 3 announcement!

July 28, 2021 19:00 - 20 minutes - 14.5 MB

This is just a short little episode that answers some viewer questions about Aksum, including questions about the Ge'ez language, the Aksumite-Roman relationship, and Ethiopian saints. Also features an announcement regarding next season. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 29: Gudit, The Woman Who Destroyed An Empire

July 19, 2021 11:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MB

Gudit, the princess of a cadet branch of the Aksumite Royal family, was betrayed, tortured, and exiled from the city of Aksum. In exile, she plots a scheme to take her revenge. At Gudit's hands, the Aksumite empire will collapse not with a whimper, but with a bang. Support the show (https://patreon.com/historyofafrica)

Episode 29 - Gudit, The Woman Who Destroyed An Empire

July 19, 2021 11:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MB

Gudit, the princess of a cadet branch of the Aksumite Royal family, was betrayed, tortured, and exiled from the city of Aksum. In exile, she plots a scheme to take her revenge. At Gudit's hands, the Aksumite empire will collapse not with a whimper, but with a bang. Support the show (https://patreon.com/historyofafrica)

Season 2 Episode 19 - Gudit, The Woman Who Destroyed An Empire

July 19, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MB

Gudit, the princess of a cadet branch of the Aksumite Royal family, was betrayed, tortured, and exiled from the city of Aksum. In exile, she plots a scheme to take her revenge. At Gudit's hands, the Aksumite empire will collapse not with a whimper, but with a bang. The Proffitt Podcast Learn how to create content with confidence! Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show

Season 2 Episode 19 - Gudit, The Woman Who Destroyed An Empire

July 19, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MB

Gudit, the princess of a cadet branch of the Aksumite Royal family, was betrayed, tortured, and exiled from the city of Aksum. In exile, she plots a scheme to take her revenge. At Gudit's hands, the Aksumite empire will collapse not with a whimper, but with a bang. Notre Dame Stories Stories highlighting Notre Dame’s work to be a force for good in the world. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 28 - The Fall of the Aksumite Empire part 1: Anbasa Wedem, Wise Regent or Cruel Usurper?

July 05, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 13.8 MB

After decades of restoring the Aksumite Empire to glory, Nigusa Nagast Degna Djan is dead, and his system will not last. However, what happened to his sons is mired in unreliable histories and later propaganda. Join us for the latest episode of the History of Africa Podcast, where we attempt to dissect and navigate the historical minefield of late Aksum to determine what really happened in the Ethiopian Highlands of the 10th Century. How do great civilizations fall? In this three part sub-s...

Season 2 Episode 18 - The Fall of the Aksumite Empire part 1: Anbasa Wedem, Wise Regent or Cruel Usurper?

July 05, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 13.8 MB

After decades of restoring the Aksumite Empire to glory, Nigusa Nagast Degna Djan is dead, and his system will not last. However, what happened to his sons is mired in unreliable histories and later propaganda. Join us for the latest episode of the History of Africa Podcast, where we attempt to dissect and navigate the historical minefield of late Aksum to determine what really happened in the Ethiopian Highlands of the 10th Century. How do great civilizations fall? In this three part sub-s...

Episode 27 - Degna Djan: The Last Great King of Aksum

June 21, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB

Aksum's seemingly unending civilizational decline is finally reversed. The new Negus, Degna Djan, formulates a plan to reclaim the power of the autocratic kings of old and weaken the power of the church. With this power secured, he begins a prolonged series of successful wars against Aksum's neighbors, including the Agaw,  Amhara, Omotic peoples, and Somalis. However, no matter the successes of his reign, Degna Djan also has an unfortunate legacy of setting into motion the events that would ...

Season 2 Episode 17 - Degna Djan: The Last Great King of Aksum

June 21, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MB

Aksum's seemingly unending civilizational decline is finally reversed. The new Negus, Degna Djan, formulates a plan to reclaim the power of the autocratic kings of old and weaken the power of the church. With this power secured, he begins a prolonged series of successful wars against Aksum's neighbors, including the Agaw,  Amhara, Omotic peoples, and Somalis. However, no matter the successes of his reign, Degna Djan also has an unfortunate legacy of setting into motion the events that would ...

Season 2 Episode 16 - The War for the Dahlak Islands and the Aksumite Dark Age

June 07, 2021 11:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

Throughout the 8th until the 10th centuries, Aksumite society changed immensely. Once a powerful, centralized empire, Aksum increasingly evolved into a decentralized, feudal state. Where once the Negus was an unchallenged hegemon, they now had to frequently contend with rivals for power within the priestly and landowning classes. However, not everyone took these changes lying down. The Aksumite merchant class, in a desperate attempt to reverse their dwindling powers, began a series of aggre...

Episode 26 - The War for the Dahlak Islands and the Aksumite Dark Age

June 07, 2021 11:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

Throughout the 8th until the 10th centuries, Aksumite society changed immensely. Once a powerful, centralized empire, Aksum increasingly evolved into a decentralized, feudal state. Where once the Negus was an unchallenged hegemon, they now had to frequently contend with rivals for power within the priestly and landowning classes. However, not everyone took these changes lying down. The Aksumite merchant class, in a desperate attempt to reverse their dwindling powers, began a series of aggre...

Season 2 Episode 15 - The Somali Maritime Era

May 24, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MB

After centuries of thoroughly dominating the commerce and trade of the Red Sea, the powerful merchants of Aksum have finally met their match. After a devastating raid from the caliphate on the port city of Adulis, the Somali merchants will finally gain the opportunity they need to equal and even surpass the Aksumite trade monopoly. To learn more about the topic and African history more generally, check out the new blog post. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

Episode 25 - The Somali Maritime Era

May 24, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MB

After centuries of thoroughly dominating the commerce and trade of the Red Sea, the powerful merchants of Aksum have finally met their match. After a devastating raid from the caliphate on the port city of Adulis, the Somali merchants will finally gain the opportunity they need to equal and even surpass the Aksumite trade monopoly. To learn more about the topic and African history more generally, check out the new blog post. Support the show (https://patreon.com/historyofafrica)

Episode 24 - The Rise of Islam (From the Aksumite Perspective)

May 10, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MB

Facing the threat of persecution from the polytheistic elite of Mecca, the early followers of the Prophet Muhammad are forced to leave the city. They find refuge in the Empire of Aksum. However, not all is well in the empire. The current negus, Armah (more often known as Al-Najashi) is struggling to put down the rebellion of the treacherous general Hatsani Danael. Thank you for listening to the History of Africa podcast. If you'd like to support the show, or vote in the upcoming poll for th...

Season 2 Episode 14 - The Rise of Islam (From the Aksumite Perspective)

May 10, 2021 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MB

Facing the threat of persecution from the polytheistic elite of Mecca, the early followers of the Prophet Muhammad are forced to leave the city. They find refuge in the Empire of Aksum. However, not all is well in the empire. The current negus, Armah (more often known as Al-Najashi) is struggling to put down the rebellion of the treacherous general Hatsani Danael. Thank you for listening to the History of Africa podcast. If you'd like to support the show, or vote in the upcoming poll for th...

Season 2 Episode 13 - The Aksumite-Persian War

April 26, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MB

A triumvirate of a disgraced Aksumite prince, a Persian death-row prisoner, and an Arab-Jewish nobleman threaten to permanently kick the Aksumites out of their Yemeni client kingdom  Learn more about the Aksumite-Persian war (or about African history as a whole (on our accompanying blog. Thank you to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode: check out their website to sign up at Podcorn.com Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 23 - The Aksumite-Persian War

April 26, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MB

A triumvirate of a disgraced Aksumite prince, a Persian death-row prisoner, and an Arab-Jewish nobleman threaten to permanently kick the Aksumites out of their Yemeni client kingdom  Learn more about the Aksumite-Persian war (or about African history as a whole (on our accompanying blog. Thank you to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode: check out their website to sign up at Podcorn.com Support the show (https://patreon.com/historyofafrica)

Season 2 Episode 12 - The Year of the Elephant and the First Plague

April 12, 2021 11:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MB

In the 530s AD, a mysterious disease swept across the Aksumite territories of Ethiopia and Yemen. The black plague, with mysterious origins somewhere in the interior of East Africa, would soon spread on the ships of Aksumite merchants across the world. To make matters worse, a surge in volcanic activity caused a drop in global temperature, causing further chaos in the agrarian economy of Aksum. Meanwhile, as Abraha's kingdom of Aksumite Arabia struggled to recover from the plague, the former...

Episode 22 - The Year of the Elephant and the First Plague

April 12, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MB

In the 530s AD, a mysterious disease swept across the Aksumite territories of Ethiopia and Yemen. The black plague, with mysterious origins somewhere in the interior of East Africa, would soon spread on the ships of Aksumite merchants across the world. To make matters worse, a surge in volcanic activity caused a drop in global temperature, causing further chaos in the agrarian economy of Aksum. Meanwhile, as Abraha's kingdom of Aksumite Arabia struggled to recover from the plague, the former...

Season 2 Episode 11: The Aksumite Civil War

March 29, 2021 11:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MB

The Aksumite invasion of Yemen was a success! The Himyarite king had killed himself, and the entirety of the Himyarite kingdom was under Aksumite control. Now what? Two Aksumite generals: the prince-general Ariat and the slave-turned-general Abraha, disagreed strongly as to what they should do next. These disagreements, over such different matters as forced conversions, which villages should be raided, and how much power should be given to a puppet king, all eventually escalate into a catast...

Episode 21: The Aksumite Civil War

March 29, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MB

The Aksumite invasion of Yemen was a success! The Himyarite king had killed himself, and the entirety of the Himyarite kingdom was under Aksumite control. Now what? Two Aksumite generals: the prince-general Ariat and the slave-turned-general Abraha, disagreed strongly as to what they should do next. These disagreements, over such different matters as forced conversions, which villages should be raided, and how much power should be given to a puppet king, all eventually escalate into a catast...