ID questions and short essay questions
707803
ethiopia.pptxEthiopia
Introduction: center of Africa’s most ancient Aksum/Axum civilization, etc oldest state in Africa; significant for understanding Africa’s religious and political development, etc, etc
Early establishment of the Christian Church
350 AD: Emperor Ezana adopted Christianity as official state religion, since then church has played role as guardian of Ethiopia’ culture
Early 7th century, some followers of Mohammad escaped persecutionto Ethiopia, and Ethiopian King refused to return them.
Located in north-east Africa, highlands, relative isolation
Ancient Ethiopia: desert people largely Muslims, the plateau was known as Christian land. Plateau is central to Abyssinian history
Impact of Aksum/Axum on contemporary Ethiopia: Christianity was introduced into Aksum in 4th century; and survived ever since
Christian Kingdoms: 850-1550 dynasties included Zagwe dynasty (1150-1270), established capital in Adefa; Solomonid Dynasty (1270-1550)
Legend of Prester John, generally believed this strong emperor will assist European powers against Islam. European powers believed this, and established better relations with Ethiopia.
By late 18th century, the main institutions of ancient Ethiopia had collapsed. Ethiopia remained generally weak until the mid-nineteenth century when Tewodoros II was crowned.
Aksum civilization created great monuments great monuments; civilization as a result of war, commerce by the Red Sea also declined; descendants of Aksum moved south with their Christianity; Aksumite & Kushite mixture settled on plateau, referred to as Abyssinian.
Geography is important mountains prevent foreign invasion; mountains isolated region, and encouraged them to develop its culture
Beginning of the 19th century, kingdom was weak, with chiefdoms attempting to separate
Emperor Tewodoros (Theodore) became emperor in 1855; had a large army; regulated power of the church, improved taxation, controlled feuding nobles, abolished slave trade, etc; had ambitious goals
Ran into problem with Britain in an attempt to pre-empt GB imperialism, arrested and jailed GB consul in Ethiopia; 1867 GB sent an expedition against him, subjects turned against him, and he eventually lost.
Though his regime ended in a failure, he was able to restore the prestige of the emperor, and reign is seen as forerunner of modern Ethiopia
Yohannes (John) IV (1872-1889): political squabbles followed death of Tewodoros, but Yohannes was crowned in 1872;
Goal to prevent/stop attacks from Egypt and also watch out for nations of France, Portugal, Italy
1885: Italians established themselves on the coast and began pushing towards the Ethiopian; tried to play Yohannes rival, Menelik, against him
1877: Italians clashed with Ethiopia at Dogali, and Ethiopia was defeated
But more distractions, Sudan declared a jihad against Ethiopia. Ethiopia won but Yohannes lost his life in the process.
Emperor Menelik II replaced Yohannes, built a powerful army, bought arms from European nations including Italy, France; entered agreements with European nations which spared Ethiopia Scramble for Africa, initially ignored statements in Europe that Ethiopia was a protectorate of Italy but 1893 informed Europeans powers that Italy was lying.
At the Battle of Adowa, Ethiopia was victorious. Implication???
Menelik died in 1913, and was succeeded by Ras Tafari, distant relative, who in 1930 took the title Emperor Haile Selassie.
