Punt, an early state in the Horn of Africa, was a crucial trading partner of ancient Egypt, with expeditions by Egyptian Pharaohs like Sahure (r. 2743-2731 B.C.) seeking myrrh, ebony, and electrum. Queen Hatshepsut’s detailed expedition to Punt, documented at Dier El Bahri, brought back a wealth of goods including frankincense, cinnamon, ivory, and exotic animals. Punt also exported iron, bronze, livestock, and medicinal plants to Egypt, importing tools, clothing, and jewelry in return, highlighting its role as a pivotal trade hub. Scholars debate Punt’s location, considering references to resources like gold and the navigational challenges through the Bab-el Mandeb Strait. Meanwhile, Da’amat (980 B.C.-400 B.C.), Ethiopia’s earliest documented state south of Aksum, flourished at Yeha as a trading center. It traded ivory, rhinoceros horn, and more with South Arabian merchants, contributing to its peak prosperity around 750-500 B.C. Da’amat’s cultural and technological advancements, including iron production and trade routes to Yemen, paved the way for the Aksumite Empire’s later success (100 B.C.-940 A.D.) at cities like Qohaito and Matara.