Discuss the effects of the introduction of Christianity in Axum

Prior to the fifth century, Christianity in Ethiopia's Axum Empire was limited to the elite classes. However, the religion began spreading during the fifth century as Christian missionaries fled from the Roman Empire to Ethiopia due to a doctrinal disagreement with the Alexandrian church. In the fourth century, King Ezana declared the empire to be Christian and added crosses to the empire's flag and currency. One effect of Axum's conversion to Christianity was conflict with...

Prior to the fifth century, Christianity in Ethiopia's Axum Empire was limited to the elite classes. However, the religion began spreading during the fifth century as Christian missionaries fled from the Roman Empire to Ethiopia due to a doctrinal disagreement with the Alexandrian church. In the fourth century, King Ezana declared the empire to be Christian and added crosses to the empire's flag and currency.

One effect of Axum's conversion to Christianity was conflict with the nearby Himyarite kingdom over their persecution of Christians, which led to decades of war between the two nations. Another effect was conflict with the Islamic Empire. Axum Christians were largely on friendly terms with Muslims, and they even offered shelter to Muhammad's followers shortly after his death. In the eighth century, however, the Islamic Empire attempted to conquer parts of Axum and convert it to Islam. This loss of land contributed to the decline of the Axum Empire.