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QuoteReplyTopic: Axum -- Fact and Fiction Posted: 06-Aug-2008 at 18:10
I recently read a very nice alternate-history/science fiction series (The Belisarius Series, which I highly recommend, by Eric Flint and David Drake) in which the civilization of Axum featured strongly. It was characterized as a society with a regimental army skilled in spear use and heavy hacking swords, but more of a naval and trading power than a military one, with ships that were (in general) relatively sleek and fast. It was mentioned that it fought quite a few battles with nearby seminomadic Arabian societies, and that it was a nominal ally of Byzantine Rome.
I was mostly wondering how much of this is accurate (Eric Flint is generally pretty good about historical accuracy, especially since he has a degree in African history), and if there are any good books about the progression of Axum as a civilization.
Who is the great dragon whom the spirit will no longer call lord and god? "Thou shalt" is the name of the great dragon. But the spirit of the lion says, "I will." - Nietzsche
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