Year 4 - History
The Christian Church in Aksum
The Romans: what is the story of Christianity's rise?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the history of early Christianity's changing fortunes: from a persecuted faith to the official religion of the Roman Empire. They also learn about three great centres of this religion: Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the East African kingdom of Aksum.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the early Christian kingdom of Aksum and how historians have learnt about it.
Key Notes
- Christian Churches did not just emerge in the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.
- In Aksum, an important trading kingdom near the Red Sea, Christianity became the dominant religion in the 4th century.
- Sources such as coins, Ezana's stela and the Ezana Stone, suggest that this took place during the rule of King Ezana.
- In Ethiopia today, many Aksumite churches have been found carved into rocky mountainsides.
- Inside these churches the walls are covered with beautiful paintings of Christian stories.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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 Mistakes To Avoid
- Christianity is a Western religion.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Christian Churches did not just emerge in the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. In Aksum, an important trading kingdom near the Red Sea, Christianity became the dominant religion in the 4th century.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'trade'
people trade by buying or selling items they need or want.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Christianity is a Western religion. Correction: Christianity originated in the Middle East and quickly spread across various regions, including Africa.
More Lessons In This Unit
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