Final answer:
The Aksumite Kingdom fell due to environmental challenges, economic troubles, overextension of military finances, disruptions to Red Sea trade, and internal strife, leading to its decline from political and cultural prominence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decline of the Aksumite Kingdom was due to several factors. First, the kingdom faced environmental challenges, such as aridity and soil erosion, which negatively affected agricultural productivity. Economic troubles also plagued the kingdom, as evidenced by the reduced number of Aksumite coins found from this period.
The kingdom's finances and military were overextended by campaigns such as Kaleb's military involvement in Arabia and the Sasanian occupation disrupted Aksum's vital Red Sea trade networks.
Additionally, there were signs of internal strife and revolts within the ruling class. All these factors contributed to Aksum's diminished political and cultural prominence by the mid-600s. Over time, groups like the Beja began to rebel and the kingdom shrank.
Aksum eventually transformed into an agricultural community ruled by a landed aristocracy, foretelling the rise of the Ethiopian Kingdom that assimilated the area.
In summary, the combined strain of environmental issues, economic difficulties, military overexertion, and internal conflict led to the rapid decline of the powerful Aksumite Kingdom.