HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Though the history of Ethiopia is believed to have began way before the rise of the Axumite kingdom in the 1st century AD, - (The first recorded account of the region dates back to almost 5,000 years ago during the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, when the ancient Egyptians sent expeditions down the Red Sea in quest of gold, ivory, incense, and slaves.)-it would not be a short time if one begins counting downwards from the 1st century until the more- than- one hundred archeological sites yet under study give us more refined and uncontroversial evidences about the pre-Axumite era. Even this makes Ethiopia the oldest in Africa and one of the most ancient in the world

The kingdom of Axum was one of the powerful kingdoms of the world with territories extending beyond the present boundaries of Ethiopia in to Eritrea and Yemen. Axum controlled much of the Red Sea coast and had links with the Mediterranean world.

While Ezana was a king over Axum in the 4th century Christianity was introduced in to the country by Frumentius of Tyre. Closely tied to the Egyptian Coptic Church, the established Ethiopian church accepted Monophysitism. In the 6th cent., Jewish influence penetrated Aksum, and some Ethiopians were converted to Judaism.

The weakening and final collapse of this strong kingdom is attributed to the rise of Islam in the 7th century which led to loss of control of the red sea trade route ,and the war from a ferocious falasha woman named by Ethiopians “Youdith-Gudith” who destroyed most of the civilization of Axum rising from among the Semien Mountainsand Lasta regions.

By the 12th century power moved further south in to the hands of Lasta, who formed a dynasty by the name Zagwe. King Lalibela, who is responsible in carrying out the well-admired row of monolithic rock churches, is among them. There is even a legend that has a deeper root in Europe associated with King Lalibela. But it still is obscure. Nothing is clearly documented or the association has not yet been fully worked out by present scholars. The legend is that there existed a vast and wealthy Christian kingdom somewhere in the Indies-probably believed to be Ethiopia.

After 1270 the Solomon dynasty was restored and this period was referred to as the time of the Ethiopian renaissance. Major changes were noticed. For example ,manual publication of Kibre Negest-the book containing the first record of the legend of Queen of Sheba ; flourishing of writing and religious art;a southward expansion of the Kingdom in to Showa,-all point to this period which spans between the 13th and 15th century.

Around 1528 Ethiopia’s destruction years came up again. A muslim warrior who the Ethiopians call Ahmed Gragn (Ahmed –the left handed) inflicted a massive damage on the growing civilization of the Solomonic leaders. This war could be comparable in destruction with that of Yodith –Gudith that buried the Axumite civilization.

Until the rise in to power of Emperor Tewodros II in 1855 , Ethiopia was ruled by many chiefs who dominated a small territory . History has recorded in favour of Emperor Tewodros as the instigator of the Ethiopian Unity and modernization .He subdued the local chiefs and attempted to stop slavery and redistribute wealth among farmers which won him few loyals among the nobility and innumerable enemies. His final end of power and life came as a result of his attempt to modernize the national army through the help of the Europeans. He was not successful. So he imprisoned British “missionaries” in his territory. To free these prisoners, in 1869, Britain sent a force of 32,000 men. It was bad time for the king. His army had already dwindled from 60,000 to 10,000. In the end he chose to take his own life than give his hand to his enemies.

Another famous king who came after Thewodros’ successor Yohannes, was Emperor MenelikII. He completed the unification process began by Tewodros. He also succeeded in introducing modernity in to the country. The first electricity, the first telephone, the first modern school, the first hospital, the first railway, the first bank and the first postage stamps, were all the result of his period.

Menelik was also known as the sole African King to subdue European Powers who were at the time busy scrambling Africa. He is the one who started the present Ethiopian Capital-Addis Ababa.

After 50 years of preparation the Italian Army brutally recaptured Ethiopia for a brief period of time-5 Years, during the time of Hailesselassie II. This king is still considered as a deity by the Rasta community-many of them Jamaicans.

After the 1974 overthrow of Haileselassie , the last emperor from the solomonic dynasty,a Marxisist Military Government ...

What you have read above have left behind many heritages that the present day man can enjoy and be inspired by....