A small number of Ethiopian churches, such as Debre Damo (above) and Degum, can be tentatively ascribed to the Aksumite period. These two structures probably date to the 6th century or later. Still standing pre-6th century Aksumite churches have not been confidently identified. However, archaeologists believe that a small number of now-ruined structures dating to the 4th or 5th century functioned as churches—a conclusion based on features such as their orientation. A large stepped podium in the compound of the church of Mary of Zion in Aksum (considered by the Ethiopians as the dwelling place of the Ark of the Covenant), probably once gave access to a large church built during this period.
Aksumite churches adopted the basilica plan (with a long central aisle, sometimes with a shorter wing crossing it, forming the shape of a cross). These churches were constructed using well-established local building techniques and their style reflects local traditions. Although very little art survives from the Aksumite period, recent radiocarbon analyses of two illuminated Ethiopic manuscripts known as the Garima Gospels suggest that these were produced respectively between the 4th-6th and 5th-7th centuries. Aksumite coins (below) can also be looked at to gain insight into artistic conventions of the period.
The trick is to not have a very high inflation rate that imperils your nominal earnings since you still have to earn the nominal money to be able to service your debt. There’s a sweet spot somewhere and that obviously depends on the country but then, what we have of course in weaker countries and more vulnerable countries where the inflation rates are approaching runaway inflation rates and so on.
We run very serious risks of the balance of payments crises. What tends to happen in emerging markets is that they are more dependent than mature economies. So much of those imports perhaps need to be settled in dollars.
