Final answer:
The kingdom of Axum was the first state in Africa to have a Christian monarch, following the conversion of King Ezana between 330-340 AD. It was a major trading empire that retained deep connections with the Coptic Church and Christianity even as Islam spread throughout neighboring regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aksum: The First State in Africa with a Christian Monarch
The kingdom of Axum was the first state in Africa with a Christian monarch. This historical event is marked by the conversion of King Ezana between 330-340 AD, transitioning Aksum from polytheism to Christianity. Following King Ezana's baptism, Axum began to witness the integration of Christian symbols, such as the Christian cross on its coins, signaling its established status as a Christian state. The Aksumite Empire, located in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, was an influential trading powerhouse with connections through the Red Sea and the Nile into the Indian Ocean. It thrived until the tenth century when it was overtaken by Queen Gudit.
The spread of Christianity in Axum was significantly aided by a missionary named Frumentius, who, after being brought to the royal court, succeeded in converting King Ezana. The promotion of Christianity continued as Axum maintained strong ties with the Coptic Church in Egypt, reflecting the religious and cultural influences in the region. Despite the rise of Islam in surrounding regions, Christianity remained entrenched in Axum, and its successor state, the Kingdom of Abyssinia.