Final answer:
Aksum and Himyar became powerful due to their location near the Red Sea, facilitating strategic trade routes and cultural exchanges. Himyar's agricultural richness and trade of luxury goods, along with Aksum's role in long-distance trade and religious monuments, greatly contributed to their prominence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics that made Aksum and Himyar powerful states in East Africa and Arabia, respectively, include access to strategic trade routes, large agricultural territories, and advanced maritime technologies. Aksum and Himyar strategically utilized their geographic locations to their advantage. Aksum, located in the region of modern Ethiopia, and Himyar, positioned across the Red Sea in modern-day Yemen, both had access to the Red Sea, which was crucial for long-distance sea trade. This waterway facilitated the exchange of luxury goods like ivory and spices, and made these kingdoms essential intermediaries between the Roman Empire, East Africa, and India.
Furthermore, Himyar was renowned for its fertile lands and the trade of luxury items such as frankincense and myrrh. Unlike the prior Sabaean control that focused on overland routes, the Himyarites concentrated on maritime trade, particularly after the unification of Himyar. They established good relations with neighboring states, traded extensively, and culturally influenced the region after the Himyarite rulers converted to Judaism in the late fourth century CE. Aksum similarly benefited from its location and supported long-distance trade, contributing to the region’s thriving cultural heritage. Aksumite leaders publicly expressed their religious devotion through creating inscriptions and building monuments to their faith, combining ancient Jewish traditions with Christianity from the fourth century CE.
The strong religious identities—Christianity in Aksum and Judaism in Himyar—were also influential and informed the governments and cultures in these respective states. Both kingdoms participated in cultural and economic exchanges with other societies, propelling Aksum and Himyar into powerful and prestigious states in their time.