Video Lesson

Lesson Objectives

After learning this lesson, you will be able to:

• explain about the pre-Aksumite centers of culture and civilization;
• describe about the economic relationship between Egypt and Punt;
• make a list of pre-Aksumite centers of culture and civilization.

Brainstorming Questions

• What do you think is the importance of Punt and Damat for our understanding of the history of the region?
• Where do you think the geographical location Punt and Damat found?

key terms and concepts

1. Punt and Da’amat

1. Punt

The land of Punt, historically known as an early state in the Horn of Africa, was a significant trading partner of ancient Egypt, as evidenced by Egyptian sources. Egyptian Pharaohs, including Sahure (r. 2743-2731 B.C.), sent expeditions to Punt to collect valuable commodities such as myrrh, ebony, and electrum (a gold and silver alloy). However, the most detailed account of these expeditions comes from Queen Hatshepsut (1490-1468 B.C.), whose expedition to Punt is extensively documented in her tomb at Dier El Bahri. The expedition to Punt was warmly welcomed, and upon their return, they brought back a rich variety of goods including frankincense, cinnamon, sandalwood, spices, ivory, rhinoceros horn, leopard skins, ostrich feathers and eggs, live monkeys, and giraffes.

Punt also exported iron, bronze, livestock (such as asses and cattle), animal furs, dye plants, and medicinal plants to Egypt. In exchange, they imported tools (axes, daggers, swords, knives, sickles), clothing, jewelry (bracelets, necklaces), and beads from Egypt. This trade relationship illustrates the prosperity and cultural exchange between ancient Egypt and the land of Punt, highlighting Punt’s significance as a pivotal trading hub in the Horn of Africa during antiquity.

The exact geographical extent of the ancient land of Punt remains uncertain. Scholars debate its location based on historical references to its resources. Some suggest northern or northeastern Somalia due to mentions of various incenses and myrrh. Others lean towards northern Ethiopia, especially considering references to gold, ebony, and monkeys.

The feasibility of Egyptian sailboats navigating through the Bab-el Mandeb Strait into the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean raises questions about Punt’s location. Some propose a region stretching from Swakim or Massawa to Bab-el Mandeb as a plausible area for Punt. Ultimately, the location of Punt continues to be a topic of scholarly debate, influenced by historical accounts and the practicalities of ancient maritime navigation.

2. Da’amat

historically known from around 980 B.C. to 400 B.C., was the earliest documented state in Ethiopia, situated slightly south of Aksum. Its capital, Yeha, located 30 kilometers northeast of Aksum, started as a modest trading center but grew into a significant hub where South Arabian merchants traded ivory, rhinoceros horn, and other goods from the interior.

The peak of Da’amat’s prosperity is believed to have been between approximately 750 B.C. and 500 B.C. The archaeological remains, including walls, stone masonry, a standing temple, and inscriptions, bear testament to the grandeur of Yeha during this era. Da’amat’s significance extended beyond trade. It was renowned for its production of iron tools and weapons, as well as its cultivation of millet. The kingdom engaged in trade with South Arabian merchants, exporting commodities such as gold, silver, slaves, ivory, and tortoise shells. Yeha’s strategic location facilitated trade routes connecting the Red Sea with Yemen in the East, further enhancing its economic importance.

Cities like Qohaito and Matara also flourished as vital stops along the trade route between Adulis and Aksum during the Aksumite Empire (100 B.C. to 940 A.D.). Da’amat’s cultural and technological advancements laid the foundation for the subsequent kingdom of Aksum, ushering Ethiopia into an era of prosperity and cultural achievement.