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The Rise of Dʿmt - A Kingdom Emerges in the Horn of Africa (c. 980 BCE)
In the late 10th century BCE, a significant political and cultural entity known as Dʿmt (also spelled Daʿamat or Damat) emerged in the northern Horn of Africa, in what is now modern-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. While the exact founding date remains uncertain, archaeological and epigraphic evidence suggests that Dʿmt became a notable kingdom around 980 BCE, marking an important phase in the pre-Aksumite history of the region.
Dʿmt was a Sabaean-influenced kingdom, shaped by interactions with South Arabian (particularly Sabaean) traders and settlers who crossed the Red Sea. The kingdom blended indigenous African traditions with Sabaean cultural elements, including:
- Writing systems (using a South Arabian script)
- Religious practices (worshiping deities like Almaqah, a moon god also revered in Saba)
- Architectural styles (evident in temples and irrigation works)
Dʿmt was likely a centralized state with a ruling elite that controlled trade routes between the Ethiopian Highlands and the Red Sea. Key aspects of its economy included:
- Agriculture (terracing and irrigation supported crop cultivation)
- Trade (exporting ivory, incense, gold, and possibly slaves to South Arabia and beyond)
- Metallurgy (evidence of ironworking suggests technological advancement)
Excavations at sites like Yeha (possibly Dʿmt's religious and political center) reveal:
- Temples dedicated to South Arabian gods
- Inscriptions in an ancient South Arabian script
- Pottery and artifacts showing cultural exchange
By the 4th century BCE, Dʿmt faded from prominence, possibly due to shifting trade dynamics or internal strife. However, it laid the groundwork for the later Kingdom of Aksum, which would dominate the region by the 1st century CE.
The emergence of Dʿmt around 980 BCE represents a crucial moment in the history of the Horn of Africa, marking the rise of a sophisticated, trade-oriented state that bridged African and Arabian worlds. While much about Dʿmt remains debated—including whether it was a unified kingdom or a collection of city-states—its influence on later Aksumite civilization is undeniable.
(Note: Some details about Dʿmt remain uncertain due to limited archaeological evidence, and scholarly interpretations vary.)
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