The Aksumite raid on the port of Jeddah in 702 CE is often mischaracterized as a religious conflict. In reality, it was a geopolitical fallout of the Fitnas (Islamic Civil Wars). During the Second Fitna, the Kingdom of Aksum formed a lucrative alliance with the rival caliphate in the Hijaz, turning the Red Sea into a shared economic zone. When the Umayyad Dynasty crushed this rebellion and seized Jeddah, they imposed repressive taxes and dismantled Aksumite trade networks. The 702 CE raid was a reactive strike by Aksum to protect its commercial interests. Paradoxically, the Umayyad retaliation—occupying the Dahlak Islands—provided a sanctuary for Alid exiles (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad). These exiles integrated with local African elites to form the Dahlak Sultanate, creating a unique Afro-Arab political and cultural bridge that redefined the region for centuries.
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The 702 CE Raid - A New History
Samael's Podcast
Welcome to Samael, a daily research-intensive podcast series that conducts an "intellectual archaeology" of the Horn of Africa by synthesizing diverse disciplines such as genetics, linguistics, and mythology. The publication moves beyond traditional nationalist narratives to explore the deep-seated identities of Ethiopia and its neighbors, utilizing sources ranging from Ge’ez and Sabaean texts to modern DNA haplogroup data. By examining a wide array of topics—including Aksumite statecraft, Cushitic cosmologies, and medieval hydro-diplomacy—Arcielss reclaims lost narratives and positions the region as a central hub of civilizational innovation rather than a historical periphery.
Welcome to Samael, a daily research-intensive podcast series that conducts an "intellectual archaeology" of the Horn of Africa by synthesizing diverse disciplines such as genetics, linguistics, and mythology. The publication moves beyond traditional nationalist narratives to explore the deep-seated identities of Ethiopia and its neighbors, utilizing sources ranging from Ge’ez and Sabaean texts to modern DNA haplogroup data. By examining a wide array of topics—including Aksumite statecraft, Cushitic cosmologies, and medieval hydro-diplomacy—Arcielss reclaims lost narratives and positions the region as a central hub of civilizational innovation rather than a historical periphery.
