Editing History of Eritrea (section)

===Early developments===
[[File:Sheikh Hanafi Mosque (8529064326).jpg|thumb|right|[[Massawa]]'s Sheikh Hanafi Mosque, built in the 15th century under Emperor Zara Yacob]]
From the late first to early second millennium Eritrea witnessed a period of migrations: Since the late 7th century, so with the decline of Aksum, large parts of Eritrea, including the highlands, were overrun by pagan [[Beja people|Beja]], who supposedly founded several kingdoms on its soil, like [[Kingdom of Belgin|Baqlin]], [[Kingdom of Jarin|Jarin]] and [[Kingdom of Qita'a|Qata]].<ref>Dan Connell, Tom Killion (2011): "Historical Dictionary of Eritrea". The Scarecrow. Lanham, Toronto, Plymouth. p. 118-119</ref> The Beja rule declined in the 13th century. Subsequently, the Beja were expelled from the highlands by Abyssinian settlers from the south.<ref>Kjetil Tronvoll (1998): "Mai Weini, a Highland Village in Eritrea: A Study of the People". p. 34-35</ref> Another people, the [[Bellou (people)|Bellou]], originated from a similar milieu as the Beja. They appeared first in the 12th century, from then on they dominated parts of northwestern Eritrea until the 16th century.<ref>Dan Connell, Tom Killion (2011): "Historical Dictionary of Eritrea". The Scarecrow. Lanham, Toronto, Plymouth. p. 120-121</ref> After 1270, with the destruction of the [[Zagwe dynasty|Zagwe Kingdom]], many [[Agaw]] fled to what is now Eritrea. Most were culturally and linguistically assimilated  into the local Tigrinya culture, with the notable exception of the [[Bilen people|Bilen]].<ref>Mussie Tesfagiorgis (2010): "Eritrea". ABC-CLIO. p. 33-34</ref> Yet another people that arrived after the fall of Aksum were the [[Cushitic languages|Cushitic-speaking]] [[Saho people|Saho]], who had established themselves in the highlands until the 14th century.<ref>Dan Connell, Tom Killion (2011): "Historical Dictionary of Eritrea". The Scarecrow. Lanham, Toronto, Plymouth. p. 54</ref>

Meanwhile, Eritrea witnessed a very slow, but steady conversion to Islam. Muslims had already reached Eritrea in 613/615, during the [[First Hijra]]. In 702, Muslim travelers entered the [[Dahlak archipelago|Dahlak islands]]. In 1060, a Yemeni dynasty fled to Dahlak and proclaimed the [[Sultanate of Dahlak]], which would last for almost 500 years. This sultanate also had sovereignty over the port town of [[Massawa]].<ref>Dan Connell, Tom Killion (2011): "Historical Dictionary of Eritrea". The Scarecrow. Lanham, Toronto, Plymouth. p. 159-160</ref>