Queen Makeda of Sheba

🥁 Echoes of Wisdom (Cultural Warm-Up)

Before wisdom was written, it was spoken.
Before laws were carved, they were remembered.
Before borders were drawn, ideas traveled freely across land and sea.

In the ancient world, wisdom did not belong to one people or one place. It moved with caravans, crossed waters, and lived in the minds of great leaders.

Quick Reflection:
What do you think makes a leader wise?
Is wisdom more powerful than wealth or force?

Origins and Rise of Power 🌍

Queen Makeda, often known as the Queen of Sheba, ruled a prosperous kingdom that likely encompassed parts of present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Yemen. Her story appears in African, Middle Eastern, and biblical traditions, reflecting the wide reach of her influence. While some aspects of her life exist within legend, archaeology and trade records confirm that the Kingdom of Sheba was a powerful commercial and cultural center in the ancient world.

Makeda rose to power during a time when control of trade routes determined influence. Sheba was strategically positioned along routes that moved incense, gold, spices, and precious goods between Africa, Arabia, and the Mediterranean. Rather than ruling through violence, Makeda established authority through economic strength, intelligence, and diplomacy. Her leadership demonstrated that political power could be built through wisdom and cooperation.

Knowledge Check 1

Which factors contributed to Queen Makeda’s rise and influence?
Select TWO correct answers.

A. Control of major trade routes
B. Isolation from neighboring regions
C. Diplomatic leadership and wisdom
D. Reliance solely on military conquest
E. Suppression of cultural exchange

Governance and Administration ⚖️

Queen Makeda’s rule reflected a governance style rooted in consultation, balance, and foresight. Rather than concentrating power through fear, she governed through alliances and strategic decision-making. Trade was protected, merchants were valued, and relationships with neighboring kingdoms were carefully managed.

Her leadership emphasized ethical authority. In many traditions, Makeda is portrayed as a ruler who tested ideas, questioned assumptions, and sought knowledge before action. This approach strengthened Sheba internally while enhancing its reputation abroad. Governance under Makeda demonstrates that leadership rooted in wisdom can produce stability without constant conflict.

Knowledge Check 2

What made Queen Makeda’s governance distinctive?
Select TWO correct answers.

A. Emphasis on consultation and wisdom
B. Elimination of diplomacy
C. Strategic alliances with other kingdoms
D. Rule based entirely on force
E. Economic and trade-based power

Culture, Scholarship, and Society 📚

Sheba was not only wealthy, it was culturally vibrant. Oral tradition, philosophy, and religious inquiry flourished within Makeda’s kingdom. Wisdom was considered a form of wealth, and leadership was expected to demonstrate intelligence as well as authority.

One of the most enduring stories associated with Queen Makeda is her meeting with King Solomon. Whether interpreted historically, symbolically, or spiritually, this encounter reflects the global reputation of her intellect. Makeda was not portrayed as a passive visitor, but as a ruler who challenged ideas, exchanged knowledge, and engaged as an equal.

In African traditions, Makeda represents a lineage of intellectual queens, women whose leadership shaped society through insight and foresight rather than domination.

Knowledge Check 3

Why is Queen Makeda remembered as a symbol of wisdom?
Select TWO correct answers.

A. Her emphasis on learning and inquiry
B. Her rejection of diplomacy
C. Her engagement with global leaders
D. Her isolation from other cultures
E. Her role in preserving cultural knowledge

Global Impact and Regional Influence 🌐

Queen Makeda’s influence extended far beyond her kingdom. Sheba served as a bridge between Africa and the ancient Near East, facilitating cultural and economic exchange. Through diplomacy and trade, Makeda positioned her kingdom as a respected global partner rather than a peripheral state.

Her legacy influenced Ethiopian royal tradition, where later rulers traced lineage and legitimacy through her story. Across Africa and the diaspora, Makeda remains a symbol of African female leadership, sovereignty, and intellectual authority.

Decline of the Kingdom and the Region Today 🕊️

Over time, shifting trade routes and regional competition weakened the Kingdom of Sheba. Political power moved, empires rose and fell, and colonial borders later fractured ancient connections. Yet Makeda’s legacy did not disappear.

Today, Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa retain cultural traditions rooted in ancient governance, spirituality, and storytelling. Queen Makeda’s story continues to inspire discussions about leadership, gender, and the role of wisdom in power.

Think–Pair–Share (3–4 learners):
How does Queen Makeda’s leadership challenge common ideas about power?
What lessons from her rule still apply today?

Individual Activity ✍🏾

Wisdom as Leadership

Reflect in writing:
• How did Queen Makeda use wisdom as a tool of leadership?
• Can intelligence and diplomacy prevent conflict?
• What modern leaders reflect Makeda’s approach?

Group Activity 🤝🏾

Leadership Without Force

Working in groups of 3–4:

1. Identify one leadership quality demonstrated by Queen Makeda.

2. Discuss how that quality strengthens communities today.

3. Propose a real-world example where wisdom could replace conflict.
   
   

Groups share one conclusion with the larger group.

References

• Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Queen of Sheba.

• Munro-Hay, S. C. (1991). Aksum: An African civilisation of late antiquity. Edinburgh University Press.

• Kitchen, K. A. (1996). Documentation for ancient Arabia. Liverpool University Press.

• Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Kebra Nagast (traditional text).
  
  

Knowledge Check Answers

1. A, C
   
   

2. A, E
   
   

3. A, C