In the early 1st millennium BC some aspects of culture, such as architecture and art as well as script, language, religion and the form of governance can be observed in numerous settlements in northern Ethiopia and southeastern Eritrea, which exhibit South Arabian influence. This contact with the Arabian Peninsula can be explained by the expansion of trade networks of South Arabia to the northern Horn of Africa. Presumably, the major interest was to widen trade in goods such as gold, ivory and obsidian.

One consequence to this interaction was that population groups from the region of Saba in South Arabia began to settle in Africa. There together with the indigenous peoples they generated a new culture, which was later, designated Ethio- Sabaean. In Yeha in the highlands of the province of Tigray developed a polity called Di’amat. Monumental buildings such as temples and palaces were erected, extraordinary handicrafts were produced, and artistic works were created. The inhabitants lived in multi-storied houses, and they buried their dead in shaft graves. For the first time writing was introduced to the region, namely a script of South Arabian origin.