Week 3 History Lesson Notes

UNIT ONE
HISTORY AND THE HISTORIAN’S CRAFT
1.1 The Meaning and Use of History
The term History can be defined as
 a branch of knowledge that deals with whathuman beings did in the past.
 It is the totality of the thoughts, sayings anddeeds of the people who lived before us.
 All things that have happened in the past (both the recorded or not) in the life of individuals, countries
or humanity as a whole.
Uses of History
 Helps us to learn about what people did in thepast.
 To understand the present and foresee thefuture developments.
 To have abroad understanding of national andinternational issues.
 To develop the necessary skills for collectingand analyzing information to reach at conclusions.
1.2 Key Elements in the Studying of History
A. Sources- are material remains which carries information about the past. No one can writehistory
without sources.
In history, every statement must be supportedby evidence.
Historical sources are divided into two: Primaryand Secondary sources.
CUSO International - History 1

1. Primary Sources- are original materials, eye witness account and had direct relations to theevents they
describe.
They are nearer in time and place to the eventExamples:- Monuments -Inscriptions
-Ornaments -Letters
-Chronicles -Tools
-Coins -Diaries
Primary sources are more reliable thansecondary sources because they have immediacy
to the event.
They are better sources of history.
2. Secondary Sources- are historical re-constrictionsand do not have direct relations to the events they
describe or nearness to the event they describe.
Examples: -History books -Plays
-Novels - Oral traditions etc.
Oral Traditions: are information’s transmitted byword of mouth from generation to generations.
It could be taken as both primary and secondarysources.
The eye-witness information is a primary source while recount the information obtained from othersources are
secondary source.
B. Interpretation- clear understands of the meaning of our evidences.
C. Presentation - presenting the facts on the paperbased on evidence in a simple, readable, and attractive way.

D. Objectivity - Presenting what all the facts saywithout any bias for or against.
 It is the utmost duty of the historian to presentthe reality as they really were and in the way they really
occurred.
1.3. The Study of Ethiopian History
 The first modern Ethiopian history was written by a German historian called Job Ludolf in 1684.
 Since the middle of the 19th C, several Europeanstook part in Ethiopian studies.
 Ethiopian writers also appeared towards the endof the 19th C. eg. AleqaTaye, Aleqa Atsem Georgis& Afeworq
Gebre Iyesus.
 Ethiopian studies focused only on the north untilthe establishment of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at the
Haile Sellassie I University Collegein 1960s, because the northern part has the following advantages over the
south.
The North had:
Been in contact with the outside world since ancient times.
A written languages such as Sabean, Geez and Amharic that served to keep records and many
chronicles of the Christian Kings.
Introduction of Christianity maintained strong contact between the Christian kingdom and Egyptian Coptic
Church, several sources on the northare available in Egyptian archives.
The archaeology of northern Ethiopia is well studied.

Problems of study of Ethiopian History
 An imbalance of Sources.
 Lack of Comprehensiveness – focused only onpolitical and economic histories and none in social and
cultural histories.
 Lack of Objectivity in the sources themselves like the chronicles of the Ethiopian kings. Somescholars
were attached to one or the other ruling dynasty and lacked access to pertinent sources.
1.4. Periodization in History
Time is an important factor in thestudy of history. It serves for
• Proper understanding of past events.
• Simplify the works of historians becausehistorians present past events by organizing them according to their
sequence in time, it is called Periodization.
Approaches to Periodization
 The first approach divides the whole historyof mankind into different periods.
 The starting point for this periodization is proposed to be 2 million years Before Present (BP), the time
when early humansbegan to walk on up right position and began to produce and use instruments of labor.
 Human history is divided from this point topresent on the basis of the following threeimportant criteria.

No Criteria Periods Duration in B.P
1 The Development of Savagery 2,000,000-8,000
Human Behavior
Barbarous 8000-5000
Civilization 5000- present
2 Objects early humans made Instrument Stone Age 2, 000,000-5,000

of Labor
Bronze Age 5,000-4,000
Iron Age 4,000 to Present
3 Aspects of HumanEconomic Life Hunting andgathering 2,000,000-8,000
Farming andAnimal 8000 -1750

husbandry

Age of Industry 1750 AD to the
Present
the other approaches to periodizationdivided history of humanity in to two major periods: Pre-History and History.
The boundary between pre-history andhistory was the beginning of the technique of writing, i.e. 6000 BP.
Thus, all events took place prior to 6000 BP are pre-history, while thoseevents after 6000 BP are history.
The pre-historic period coincided with a period known as the Stone Age (2,000, 000 - 5,000 BP), the period people
used instruments of labor which consisted of stonetools.
Based on technical progress, the stone agecan be divided into Old Stone Age, Middle Stone Age and New
Stone Age.
Many scholar divided the period into two:Old stone Age (2,000,000-8000) and New Stone Age (8000 -
5000)
The period of history began about 6000 BP further subdivided into threeperiods: Ancient, Medieval and
Modern.
There is no uniform and fixed time gaps for the subdivisions throughoutthe world. For European
History
Ancient: 1250 BC to 5th C AD
Medieval: 5th C AD to 16th C AD
Modern: 16th C to Present.

 Periodization in African history has developed a unique features as result ofEuropean colonization.
 It was divided as: Pre-Colonial, Colonial
and Post-Colonial.
 Periodization in Ethiopian history is different from the rest of African countries.
Ancient: 1000 BC to 1270 AD
Medieval: 1270 AD to 1855 AD
Modern: 1855 to Present

UNIT FIVE
THE ETHIOPIAN REGION AND THE HORNOF AFRICA

UP TO 1270
5.1. Peoples and Languages of the Ethiopia Regionand the Horn of Africa
• Languages and Linguistic Processes
Ethiopia and the Horn in general is marked by ethnic and linguistic diversity. There are about 90 languages
with 200 dialects in Ethiopia andthe Horn.
Linguists classify languages of Ethiopia and theHorn into two major language super families. These are
Afro-Asiatic and Nilo-Saharan.
A. Afro-Asiatic: this super family is sub-divided into thefollowing families:
Cushitic: linguists divided this language family intofour branches:
Northern: is represented by Beja, spoken innorthwestern Eritrea bordering the Sudan.
Central: Agaw includes Awign, Kunfel, Qimant;Hamtanga and Bilen.
Eastern: this includes diversified linguistic groups likeAfar, Ale, Arbore, Baiso, Burji, Darashe, Dasanech, Gedeo,
Hadiya, Halaba, Kambata, Konso, Libido, Mosiye, Oromo, Saho, Sidama, Somali, Tambaro, Tsemai, etc.
Southern: represented by Dhalo in Kenya and Nbuguain Tanzania.
 Semitic: is divided into two:
 North: Ge'ez, Rashaida (spoken around Eritrea-
Sudanese border); Tigre (spoken in Eritrean Lowland); Tigrigna (spoken in highlandEritrea and Tigray).

 South: is further divided into two
o Transverse : Amharic, Argoba, Harari, Silte,Wolane and Zay.
o Outer: Gafat (extinct), Gurage and Mesmes(endangered).
Omotic: Anfillo, Ari, Banna, Basketo, Bench, Boro- Shinasha, Chara, Dawuro, Dime, Dizi, Gamo, Gofa, Hamer,
Karo, Keficho, Konta, Korete, Male, Melo, Oyda, Sezo, Shekkacho, Sheko, Wolayta, Yem, Zayse etc.
B. Nilo-Saharan: Anywak, Berta, Gumuz, Kacipo- Balesi, Komo, Kunama, Kwama, Kwegu, Majang, Mi'en, Murle,
Mursi, Nara, Nu’er, Nyangatom, Opo, Shabo, Suri and Uduk.
Language classification did not remain static.
Factors like population movements, warfare, trade, religious and territorial expansion,urbanization
etc. have resulted in intense linguistic processes that forced languages to be affected. In this process,
some languages died out or have been in danger of extinction while others thrived over time.
5.2. The Aksumite Kingdom
Was not the first state that emerged inEthiopia.
Aksum emerged in the first century AD withits nucleus at Aksum- center for one of the ancient civilizations in
northeast Africa.
Until very recently it was believed that theAksumite civilization was derived from thatof South Arabia.
the Aksumite civilisation resulted from thefusion of Cushitic and Semitic cultures.

Scholars argued that civilizations in the region werelargely the results of internal developments – the growth of
agriculture and the beginning of a sedentary way of life.
Our information about Aksum comes from
inscriptions and written sources.
Inscriptions are available in three ancientlanguages- Sabean, Greek and Geez
written sources are the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea and the Christian Topography
The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea
a trade manual written in the middle of the first century AD by an unknown Greek speaking sailor.
Gives a detailed account of internal and externaltrade of Aksum, well known ports (Adulis) on theRed Sea
and the Indian Ocean coasts.
Zoskales, speak Greek, was the king of Aksum.
The Aksumite state was highly organized andstrong.
The Christian Topography
By Cosmas Indicopleustes, Greek traveler inthe first half of the sixth century A.D
Aksumite kings had sent their commercial agents to the lands to the South of Blue Nile,known as Sasu, to buy
gold.
deals mainly with the social, political and economic developments in Aksum during thesixth century.
The source of the gold which the Aksumitesused to export and to produce coins.

Aksumite State Structure, Society and Economy
Aksumite state was based on a well-organized society.
Society divided into different social groups on occupational basis- peasantry, artisans, merchants and
slaves.
Artisans were responsible for the productionof agricultural implements and tools, while the slaves were working
on the land of the landed patricians.
The Aksumite state structure was more or lessmonarchical.
The kings were at the center of the politicalpower- did not have absolute power.
They appointed officials to various provinces ofthe empire.
Some elements of feudalism appeared
Economically, the Aksumites depended on ploughagriculture.
The state also generated considerable income fromlocal and external trade conducted via the port of Adulis on the
Red Sea coast.
To facilitate trade, coins of bronze, silver andgold were minted.
Some of the early Aksumite coins borelegends in Greek,

while the later coins carried inscriptions in Geez language.
The earliest Aksumite coins also carried representations of the sun's disk and the moon's crescent, which
were abandoned beginning from the mid fourth century A.D.and replaced by the cross of Christ.
With the growth of their power and prosperity, the Aksumites monopolized the Red Sea trade.

The expansion of Aksum
Initially, Aksum was a small state. Betweenthe fourth and sixth centuries, Aksumite kings expanded the
kingdom significantly toinclude territories bounded in the east beyond the Red Sea (southern Arabia), the
River Abay in the west, the northern tip of Eritrea in the north and north Shewa in the south.
The military power of the Aksumite state extended beyond the Red Sea to parts of theSouth Arabian peninsula
and Meroe.
This expansion and military strength of Aksum enabled it to emerge as one of thethree powerful
empires of the world withByzantine and Persia.
The Decline of Aksum
the process of decline started when the Red Seahad come under the control of Muslim Arabs
the subsequent destruction of the portof Adulis in 702AD.
the decline of its economic, political and militarypower.
Internally, rebellion against king Kaleb (r.500 -535AD) broke out.
Finally, unable to check the rebellions of the Bejapeople from the north, Aksumite state was pushed southward
to Kubar in southern Tigray, and by the late ninth century, it took refuge in the area predominantly inhabited
by the Agaw people.
5.3. The Zagwe Kingdom
Came from the local Agaw ruling class inLasta.
Had long been Christianised
the people and the ruling class were wellintegrated with the Aksumite ruling class.

founded around 1150 AD by Mera Tekle Haymnot.
The founding of the Zagwe dynasty is not anew kingdom, but it is all about a political power shift.
Aksumite political center shifted southwards,the Agaw chiefs inter-married with the Aksumite court and served in
various government bureaucracies, including militaryleadership.
The exact date of the beginning of the Zagwe dynasty is not clearly known.
The economy of the Zagwe dynasty- Agriculture and trade.
The Zeila port and Dahlak Islands on the RedSea coast served as an outlet.
The territory of the kingdom stretched indifferent directions:
West- up to LakeTana and northern partof Gojjam
North - he whole region of Tigray andsouthern Eritrea.
East – not clearly known.
South - the whole of present-day Wollo andnorthern Shewa.
They were controlled by the Zagwe kings fromthe centre of the kingdom, Roha / Adefa / Lalibela.
The Zagwe dynasty is known in Ethiopian history for its remarkable architectural achievement – the technology
of buildingthe monolithic rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela.
The tradition of building these churches reached its peak during the reign of Lalibela(ruled about 1190-1225).
They are registered by the UNESCO as one ofthe cultural heritages of the world in 1978.

The Zagwe and Aksumite periods have strongcultural interconnection and continuity.
Close ties with the Orthodox Church
Christianity continued to be the state andofficial religion
Geez as the language of the Church & writing.
Similarity and continuity in architecture.
Churches were built from single blocks ofstone- Lalibela and Debre Damo.
The Period of the Zagwe dynasty coincided withthe Crusades.
The Zagwe kings wisely followed a neutral policy-maintained friendly relations with both the Muslim and
Christian states of the time.
This neutral policy won the Zagwe kings:
Getting land in Jerusalem from the Muslim authorities and build a Church in the Holy Land.
Maintained religious and commercial relations with Egypt. Bishops continued to be appointed forEthiopia by the
Coptic Church of Alexandria.
The Zagwe period was a time when the Christian kingdom enjoyed a long period ofpeace.
The Zagwe kings neglected the task of building a strong army.
All their potential energy and wealth wasspent on the construction of churches.
As a result, they could not successfully defend their kingdom against their rivals.

The Downfall of Zagwe Kingdom
In spite of their attempt to continue the Aksumite culture and tradition, however,the period of the Zagwe
dynasty was relatively short compared with the Aksumite kingdom.
It started around 1150 A.D and after some one-hundred and twenty years it was replaced by another dynasty.
Internally- Problems of royal succession
Externally- strong opposition against the Zagwerule in the Tigrean and Amhara regions.
The legend of the Queen of Sheba
states that Menelik I and his descendants ruled as kings of Ethiopia for long period of timeand that the rulers
of Ethiopia had to be direct descendants of this line.
Accused the Agaws as,' illegitimate rulers of Ethiopia,for they did not trace their genealogy from the
’Solomonic' dynasty.
Yekuno-Amlak (r. 1270-1285), who claimed decentfrom the last Aksumite king Dilna’od,
Defeated the last king of Zagwe, Yetbarek at a battle inGaynt and proclaimed the “restoration” of “Solomonic”
Dynasty .

UNIT SIX
THE TRANSITION FROMMEDIEVAL TO MODERN PERIOD
6.1. The Renaissance: A Rebirth of Learning
Renaissance was a rebirth of learning.
It was literary and cultural movements from the14th to 16th C.
First began in Italy and spread to Germany,France, England and other parts of Europe.
Marked the transition from Medieval to Modern
It was the rediscovery of the Greco-Roman civilization, neglected by the religious mindedChristian
medieval world.
Emphasized on reason, questioning attitude and inquiry
Renaissance thinkers paid greater attention to thestudy of humanity started in the 14th C. They concerned not with religious
matters, but with everyday human problems.
Francesco Petrarch (1304-74) and Giovani Boccaccio (1313-75) studied and rediscovered classical writings. The
former known for his poetryand the later for his collection of 100 short storiescalled the Decameron, published in
1353.
They insisted that the duty of intellectuals was toconcentrate on human problems by studying thepast lives.
The Christian Humanists (Northern and westernEuropean Renaissance scholars) sought to applyhumanistic
methods to the study of Christianity
i.e. the careful study of the Christian text such as the Bible.
Desiderius Ersamus of Netherlands (1466-1536) and Thomas More of England (1476-1538) were the

leading Christian humanists.
Erasmus wrote a book called “The Praise of Folly” in 1511, he ridiculed superstition, prejudice, upper privileges
and church abuses.
Wrote against narrow mindedness andintolerance.
Encouraged people to think about reforms, thenecessity of justice and freedom.
Thomas More in his book, Utopia published in1516, portrayed an ideal state free from war, injustice,
poverty and ignorance society.
Sculpture and Art
They portray nature and people realistically.
They designed buildings on a smaller scale to helpmake people aware of their own power and dignity.
Giotto di Bondone of Florentine (1260-1337)portrayed nature realistically- lifelike figures showing

real emotions.
Sculptor Donatello (1386-1466) curved the statueof Marry Magdalene and St. George.
Michelangelo (1475-1564)- an Italian painter, architect and poet. He painted Moses in 1516 gives an
overwhelming impression of physical andspiritual power.
Raphael (1483-1520) painted the SistineMadonna.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)- the ideal Renaissance man- painter, sculptor, architect,musician,
engineer and scientists.
Painted the Last Supper in 1497 and Mona Lisa in1503.

One of the most searching minds in all history-made careful drawings of human skeletons andmuscles.
Literature
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) of Italy was best known by his great epic poem “La Divine Commedia-
Divine Comedy” written in 1308. hereflects the powerful interests in all aspects of human life and behavior.
He established the use of Italian language inliterature.
Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) of Italy wrote a book called “The Prince” describes ethics and government.
He states that “the end justifies themeans”.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) of England- was the greatest poet and play write of all time such as
Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Julius Caesarand Macbeth.
Science
Developed the scientific method of observation and experimentation by challenging the medievalsuperstition and
general acceptance of Aristotle’stheories.
Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) of Poland disproved the Ptolemaic Theory- the earth is the center of the
Universe.
Promulgated the theory that the sun is the center of our solar system and the earth and other planets are
revolving around the sun.
Galileo Galilee (1564-1642) of Italy propounded thelaw of falling bodies and greatly improved the telescope.
William Harvey (1578-1657) of England
demonstrated that blood circulates through the body.
Robert Boyle (1627-91) of England discovered the lawof gases that is fundamental to modern chemistry.

6.2. The Reformation
A religious movement started in 1517 in Germany againstthe Roman Catholic Church.
Causes
The resentment of the church supremacy over civilauthority.
Nationalist minded figures considered the pope a foreignrule.
Opposition against church taxes and church’s taxexemption.
Questions over teachings on astronomy, history and Bibleinterpretation.
Criticism against some church practices – worldliness andNepotism
The first unsuccessful early attempts of reformationwere in the 14th to 15th C by John Wycliffe of England and John
Huss of Bohemia.
The actual Reformation movement was started inGermany by Martin Luther (1483-1546) in 1517.
He condemned the sale of an indulgences – accepting money for church pardons, withoutrequiring
true repentance.
He announced his Ninety Five Theses at the churchof Wittenberg in 1517 by which he won popular support.
He denied the Pope’s authority and proclaimed theBible is the Final authority.
He also translated the Bible into German and urgedeach individual to read and understand it.
He developed a new doctrine Justification by Faith- faith alone ensures salvation.
Beyond the excommunication from the Pope and punishments from King Charles V, the new religion,Lutheranism
obtained much support throughout northern Germany.

It was also expanded to Scandinavian countries-Norway, Sweden and Denmark in the 16th C.
They made it an official religion and confiscatedcatholic church properties.
The famous Reformers
Ulrich Zwingli (1448-1531)
A Swiss priest who taught that the Bible, not thePope, is the supreme authority.
John Calvin (1509-64)
A French reformer fled to Geneva, Switzerland.
Taught the doctrine of Predestination- only thoseelected beforehand by God would achieve salvation.
Calvinism became the reformist church inSwitzerland and Holland.
Presbyterian Church was the Calvinism church inScotland.
Huguenots were the small influential followers of
John Knox (1505-64)
A Scottish reformer who establish Presbyterianism asthe official Scottish religion.
Henry VIII
Reformation was established by an act of state inEngland.
Caused by the refusal of Pope Clement VII to annul (cancel) King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of
Aragon (not born Henry a son) and his desire of theextensive church properties.
Though he remained Catholic, Henry induced the parliament to pass the Act of Supremacy for the establishment

of Anglican Church of England with themonarch as the head.
Edward VI (Son of Henry)expanded Protestantism but Queen Mary I restored Catholicism as the statereligion and
suppressed the protestants.
Anglicanism was the moderate form of Protestantism established by Queen Elizabeth I.
Puritans were the followers of John Calvin in England who opposed Anglicanism because it wasEpiscopal
(governed by bishops). They wanted thePresbyterian form of Church government.
Northern Ireland colonized by the protestants (Ulster), and marked the beginning of conflicts between
Catholics and Protestants.
The Counter Reformation
Also known as the Roman Catholicreformation in the 16th C.
Consisted of two movements
1. A defensive reaction against theReformation.
2. A Catholic Reform
The Council of Trent
Met in sessions between 1545 and 1563 in Trent, Italy.
Defended Catholic doctrine on questions disputed by protestant theologians- original sin, grace, free will, theseven
sacraments, the mass and the relation between Scripture and tradition.
Arranged for the Pope to issue a catechism and bookson liturgy.
Reorganized the Inquisition in Italy too help the courtsfight Protestantism more effectively.

Stamp out abuses by the clergy and ordered bishops tolive in their dioceses, visit their parishes and set up seminars
to train priests.
The Jesuits and the Dominicans led a revival of philosophyand theology at Catholic universities.
prayer and religious donation intensified
Missionaries (Dominicans, Franciscans and Jesuits) brought new people to Catholicism among the inhabitants of
Africa,Asia and the Americas.
Historical Significance of the Reformation
Divided Europe between the Catholic South and ProtestantNorth
The growth of nationalism and democracy.
Encouraged industriousness, thrifty living, and carefulmanagement of material things.
Promoted literacy, an educational curriculum based on ancient Greek and Roman literature and a high respect for
teachers and learning.
6.3 The Rise of Absolute Monarchs and National States
Rise of Absolute Monarchs
Absolute monarchs in Europe during the Middle Agesassumed power based on divinity.
Power being passed on to the eldest son or nearest maledescendants.
They needed in order to raise and command military forcesto defend the country.
Soldiers and weapons were obtained from the feudal lordshence the rulers were dependent on the allegiance of the
nobility to maintain their power.

Eg. King Henry VIII of England and King Louis XIV of France
Reasons for the Decline of Absolute Monarchs
Abuses of power
Growing dissatisfaction among the growing middle class orbourgeoisie
th th
Revolutions in the 17 and 18 centuries.
The crystallization of the idea of citizenship- the actual legalstatues of membership of a state.
The transition from small feudal to nation states, urban middle classes obtained citizenship rights and later laid to
the foundation of modern democratic system.
Beginning of National States
England
Its early history was full of invasions
th
Eg. Until the 5 C conquered by the Romans.
Then raided and conquered by Teutonic tribes/Anglo-Saxons from northwestern Germany. They established
several small kingdoms inEngland.
th
9 C, invaders from Denmark invaded the islands but halted by Alfredthe Great-his descendants united England into
one country.
1066, the Normans led by William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings. He became of
King of England.

The Anglo-Saxons and the Normans gradually united
William I: established a strong central governmentin England
Took the lands of the Anglo -Saxons nobles anddistributed to the Normans.
Henry II was the remarkable and welk known as abuilder of the English government and law.
He grew the jury system - came into use in caseswhere persons were charged with ctimes.
King John - Henry's youngest son
treacheroys and cruel and brought troubled timesto England.
Tried to overthrow his father and plotted againsthis older brother, Richard the Lion Hearted.
he became king after Richard 's death in 1199.
His reign was
made enemies among the barons and religiousleaders.
Lost the land England held in France
quarreled with Pope Innocent III
The Magna Carta / Greater Charter
A document signed between King John andbarons and church leaders 1215.
Placed the king under English law and limitedhis power.

The Tudor Family (1485-1603)
Ruled England for over a hundred years andstrengthened royal authority.
Henry VII was the first Tudor ruler came to powerafter scoring victory at the Battle of Bos in 1485.
He was succeeded by his son Henry VIII and thenEdward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.
Henry VIII (1509-47)
Talented and popular but selfish and wasteful.
Married six times- twice dissolved his marriage, twice hiswives beheaded, once died and one outlived him.
Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603)
Was successor and half sister of Mary.
Her reign is often called the Golden Age of Englishhistory.
Was strong but cautious ruler who played her enemies offagainst one another.
Reestablished the Church of England.
England advanced in many areas.
Eg. The establishment of a great trading company- the EastIndia Company in 1600.
The exploration of the West Indies and the Coasts of North and South America by Sir Francis Drake, Sir
WalterRaleigh and other daring English adventurers.
 English literature flowered.
25
Among the great writers wereFrancis Bacon
Ben Johnson Christopher

MarloweEdmund Spencer
William Shake Spear
In 1588, an English fleet led by Admiral Lord Howard wona great sea battle against Spanish fleet, Armada.
Elizabeth died in 1603 that marked the end of the Tudordynasty and the establishment of the Stuart Dynasty
of Scotland by James VI.
France
The coronation of Hugh Capet (Count of Paris when hewas chosen as king by the more powerful lords ) in
987 marked the beginning of the French nation.
The Capetian kings controlled only their royal domain(land), between Paris and Orleans.
Gradually, the Capetian kings added more territory andbecame stronger.
Phillip II (Phillip Augusts)
The first great Capetian king since 1180.
Doubled the royal domain and tightened his control overthe nobles.
Built up a large body of government officials mainly fromthe middle class.
Developed Paris as a permanent expanding capital.
th th
From the 16 C to 18 C, the power of the Kings and theirministers grew steadily and France became a strong
nation.

Cardinal Richelieu, prime minister of Louis XIII hadincreased royal power in France.
Louis XIV
the outstanding absolute king of France.
He boasted that “I am the State”.
He persecuted about 200,000 Huguenots savagely in 1685marked the decline of French economy.
The country’s finance further weakened by the construction of the magnificent Palace of Versailles and a
series of major wars.
His effort to became supreme ruler in Europe stopped bymilitary alliances- England, Spain, the Holy Roman
Empire and other nations.
Russia
Czar-the title used to the Prince of Moscow.
Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible)- the first czar and made the powerof the czar over all Russia.
He was brutal, extremely suspicious and insane.
Formed a special police force which marked the beginning ofthe reign of terror in which hundreds of aristocrats
were arrested and murdered.
Gave the victims' estates as payment to the service gentry(landowners serving in government and the
army)
He burned many towns and villages, and killed church leaderswho opposed him, including his oldest son.
Passed a series of laws that bound the peasants to the land asserfs.

Serfdom became the economic basis of Russian power.
Fought against Tatars and Kazan and conquered Siberiaafter crossing the Ural Mountains.
Moscow was controlled by the Polish and ruled by a powerless council of boyars (high ranking landowners) from
1610-1612.
The Romanov czars established by Michael Romanov Czar (elected by the Zemski Sobor or Land
Council) andruled Russia for 300 years (1613-1917).
th
Russia annexed much of Ukraine and extended its controlof Siberia eastward to the Pacific Ocean in the 17 C.
The two half brothers- Peter I (Peter the Great) and IranV- were crowned as co-czras with Ivan’s sister
Sophia as regent from 1682-96.
Peter I
Greatly influenced by the ideas of commerce and government.
Improved Russia’s military and expanded its territory to theBaltic Sea.
Founded St. Petersburg on the Baltic in 1703.
Moved the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg in 1712
Introduced Western-type clothing, factories and schools
Reorganized Russia’s government to make it run moreefficiently.
Forced many Russian nobility to adopt many Western customs.
Increased czar’s power over the aristocrats, church officialsand serfs.

Dealt harshly with those opposed changes.
The legal status of serfs further deteriorated.
Died in 1725 and a series of power struggle took place for the throne.
Prussia
Ruled by the royal family of Hohenzollern.
The rulers controlled the lands of Slaves and Germans inthe Middle Ages.
Junkers were the hereditary aristocrats who owned most ofthe land.
Prussian men served about 8/9 months and the armieswere the most rigidly drilled and disciplined in the
world.
Berlin (the capital) and Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad) in inEast Prussia were the main cities.
The Hohenzollern family came to power in 1415 after theycontrolled margraves of the large district of Brandenburg.
They had the title Elector of Brandenburg after they take part in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor.
East Prussia and Pomerania became part of theHohenzollern ruler in 1600s.
Frederick William (1640-88) was strengthened Prussia.
Fredrick I the first king of Prussia in 1701 and built strongarmy.
Fredrick II (the Great) came to power in 1740 formed thePrussian theory government based on discipline and
authority.
Believed that “might makes right”.

His tax collectors called “War commissars” and his cabinetcalled “War Ministers”.
He seized Silesia from Austria in 1740 and taking part ofPoland in the late 1740s.
Austria
th
Came under the rule of the Franks led by Charlemagne (died in 814 )in the late 8 C.
th
The tribes of Magyars overran Austria in the 10 C.
Otto I (king of Germany) came to power in 955 and controlledAustria.
He became the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 962 and theGerman rulers ruled the empire until 1806.
Emperor Otto II gave control of NE Austria to Leopold I of the
Babenberg family in 976.
In 1156, the area ruled by a duchy, a territory ruled by a Duke.
King Ottokar of Bohemia controlled the Babenberg duchies of Austria, Styria and lands to the south since 1246,
the death of the lastBabenberg duke.
Rudolf I (a member of the Habsburg family of Switzerland) became king of the Holy Roman empire in 1273 and
defeatedOttokar in 1278.
th
The Habsburg lost the Holy Roman crown in the 14 C.
Rudolf IV (grandson of Rudolf I) claimed the archduke ofAustria in 1359 but not recognized by the European
rulers until 1453, the duchy of Austria became the Archduchy of Austria.
Gradually, the Habsburgs controlled other regions andformed the present-day of Austria.

Strong Monarchs and the Hundred Years War (1337- 1453)
Fought for the control of France by over the reigns of Five English andFrench rulers.
Characterized by a succession of wars broken by truces and treaties.
Causes
the English loss of Normandy in France in 1204.
the attempt of the French kings to control the English held provinceof Gascony in Southwest France.
The French supported the Scots against England.
The French attempted to control Flanders and the English wool trade.
The quarrel over the rights in the English Channel among French andEnglish sailors and fisher men.
Edward III of England’s (whose mother was the sister of three French kings) claim over the throne of France in 1337
marked the beginning of the HundredYears War.
Course
English won most of the battles but France won the final victory.
English exceeded three times of that of France in man power, supplies andwealth.
Hindered by several events such as peasant rebellions, pillaging in France byunemployed soldiers, the Black Death
(bubonic plague), and a peasant rebellion in England in 1381

Consequences
Weakened the power of the nobility and strengthened centralized government.
Marked the decline of feudalism and the rise of French unity
Marked the development of new military tactics and the growth of EnglishSea power.
At the battles of Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), English won great victories.
The Treaty of Bretigny was a peace treaty signed in 1360.
The Battle of Agin Court marked another victory of England led by Henry Vin 1415.
The Treaty of Troyes marked the claim to the throne of French in 1420.
The French disputed the English claim to the throne and war flared again since Henry’s death in 1422.
The English had swept through northern France and led to siege to Orleans.
Joan of Arc was a French national heroine who led the French army in 1429and Saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
A simple peasant girl who rescued from defeat in the Hundred Years.
Became prisoner of English, who later burned her as a witch.
The French continued to win battles and in 1453 England had lost its territory in Europe except Calais, controlled by France
in 1558.

6.4. European Expansion Over Seas
Factors Encouraging Overseas Voyages
The Europeans demand to buy goods from the East.
Gradually, the price of these goods increased
The major over land trade route between Europe and the East controlled by the Muslim Turks, began charging
Europeans higher andhigher prices for the Eastern products.
The Europeans wanted to by-pass the Muslims and find a direct searoute to the Indies (East Asia).
Tales of travelers also fascinated Europeans and their dramaticcuriosity about the Far East increased
Marco Polo of Venetia told strange and exciting stories about thedistant lands in Asia.
The Europeans were also eager to know about the Prester John, arich Christian king somewhere in Asia or
Africa.
th th
Large scale exploration and discovery took place in the 15 and 16 Cdue to the following developments
The development of more efficient sailing ships, entirely depend on wind. The sailing ships moved across the world
according to the winddirection.
The trade winds- moved across the Atlantic Ocean and back
The Monsoon winds- moved ships across the Indian Ocean and back.
Availability of navigation compass such as the compass, the quadrant ,and the astrolabe.
The role of Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal (1394-1460) andQueen Isabella of Spain (1451-1504) and
encourage exploration.

15th and 16th leading countries- Portugal and Spain
17th and 18th C leading countries – Dutch, French and English
Prince Henry the Navigator
Wanted to expand Portugal’s trade along the African coast
Hoped to find the source of gold
Devoted himself to training and equipping explorers
Brought together the ablest sea captains, map makers, astronomersand mathematicians
Opened the Navigation school
Vasco da Gama (1469-1524)
Portuguese explorer and navigator, who was the first person to reachIndia from Europe by a sea route.
Sailed to India and back and round the Cape route of Africa andacross the Indian Ocean to the East in 1497-
98.
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)
Italian-born Spanish navigator who trying to sail round the world toreach India, China and the East.
He had in fact reached not the East as he thought but the CaribbeanIslands and the American continents in 1492.
Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521)
Portuguese-born Spanish explorer and navigator, leader of the first expedition to circumnavigate, or sail completely
around, the world from1519-22.

Sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to the coast of Brazil with 241 men 5ships.
Named the Pacific Ocean reached the Philippines, where he was killedon 27 April, 1521.
The Victoria, the surviving ship, finally reached Spain 6, September1522 led by Captain Juan Sebastian del
Cano.
th th
European Colonial Empires in Asia (16 to 18 C)
The Portuguese was the first European appeared in India andfollowed by the Dutch, English, and French to trade.
They established trading post called “factories”, places to storeand exchange goods in the eastern trade.
The Europeans wanted to buy Asian goods such as spices,cotton, silk and tea with European gold or
silver.
Portugal more interested in developing a net work of profitable trading posts in Africa and the Far East Asia (Macao
and Goa) thanin colonizing in the New World in the 16th C.
The Dutch controlled the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia)
the English dominated India. Her colonies were established bythe trading companies.
The British East India Company controlled most of the trade innorthern India, Bombay, now Mumbai.
The French founded trading centers in Southern India.
England and France fought each other for the control of India and itsrich trade in 1689.
The Europeans easily controlled India’s rich trade due to the conflictbetween Muslims and Hindus.
French traders supported some of the quarreling local rulers, whileEnglish traders took side with others.

th
Late 17 C, English and French trading companies had a foothold inIndia.
Dupleix, a Frenchmen, who win the rajahs of Southern India.
Robert Clive, a young Englishmen, defeated Indian rulers supportedby the French.
He captured the Indian city of Arcot by leading 300 native troops and200 English.
He made the British East Indian Company (BEIC) master of SouthernIndia.
England used Calcutta as the defensive trading post which later angered the Indian ruler of the state of Bengal who
was friendly to theFrench.
The Nawab, gathered 50,000 men, seized Calcutta and locked up 146English subjects in a small cell.
The Black Hole of Calcutta-was the event in which 123 of the Englishwere dead of suffocation in 1756.
The Battle of Plassey (1757)- marked the victory of Robert Clive overthe nawab army and recaptured the city of
Calcutta
Clive rule Bengal for the BEIC
English control of India completed in 1763 and carried out by the BEICthrough local rulers.
French kept a few trading posts in India but no forts or armies.
The BEIC formed to carry on trade later on it faced the job of ruling farmore people in India than lived in England.
The BEIC was placed under the control of the British government in1784.

European Colonial Rule in the New World
Portugal
Claimed Brazil as a result of Cabral’s discovery.
He was a Portuguese captain set out from Portugal with 13 shipstowards India follow da Gama’s route.
Strong wind hindered his journey and turned towards the east coastof South America, Brazil.
Large number of Portuguese colonists settled in Brazil, hencePortuguese language most widely used in
Brazil to this day.
Later, Cabral rounding Africa and sailing on to India.
Spain
Began in 1519, Hornando Cortes commanded 600 Spaniards andsailed from Cuba to the east coast of
Tenochtitlan (Mexico City).
Montezuma, Aztec emperor, welcomed the whites as gods but Cortescaptive him conquered the empire.
Mexico became one of the important bases of Spain in the NewWorld.
Francisco Pizarro, Spanish explorer and conqueror, conquered thewealthy empire of Inca, now Peru in 1533.
Hornando de Soto sailed from Cuba to the west coast of Florida in1539.
He traveled through other United States territories in search of gold.
The huge Spanish empire in the New World divided into two parts andruled by a Viceroy, representatives.
The Spaniards mistreated the conquered peoples of India- forcedlabour in mines and on the large estates.

They were unfit to work in the deprived condition of their freedomand the Spaniards imported Negro Slaves
from Africa
Spain and Portugal plundered the old indigenous American-Indianempires and became wealthy.
The Spanish conquest in the American continents was very easy dueto European epidemic diseases- smallpox.
The internal revolt also weakened the resistance of the Aztec empireof Mexico and the Inca empire of South America
European colonization also eroded sense of self-reliance of theAmerican people.
Holland
In 1621, the Dutch West India Company was founded in the New World and
West Africa.
The company colonize New Netherlands – New York, New Jersey,Connecticut, and Delaware in
1624.
The Dutch bought Manhattan Island from the Indians for goods andestablished New Amsterdam (New
York City).
They fought naval wars with England from 1652-74, but the English failed.
The Dutch won Suriname from England and the English obtained NewNetherlands.
France
Playing a leading role in the exploration of North America.
Traded for the skins of beaver, fox, mink etc
Samuel de Champlain explore the route up to St. Lawrence River in 1603.

founded the city of Quebec as a fur-trading post in 1608.
French had a thin settlement, trading posts and forts scattered from Quebec in E Canada to New Orleans near the
Gulf of Mexico.
Dotted St. Lawrence Valley, the great Lakes, the Valleys ofOhio and the Mississippi Rivers.
Quebec was the headquarters of the governor of France inthe New World.
England
Jamestown Island in Virginia was the first English settlement in North America in 1607 and Plymouth was the
second.
The colonies of England generally grouped according tolocation.
1. The Northern /New England Colonies:- Connecticut,Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode
Island.
2. The Middle Colonies:- Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and
Pennsylvania.
3. The Southern Colonies: Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, SouthCarolina and Virginia.
There were three types of American colonies
A. Royal Colony: under the direct control of the king.
B. Proprietary Colony: controlled by a prominent individual (aproprietor) under a grant from the
king.
C. Corporate Colony: operated under a charter obtained from the kingby a company’s stock holders.

All 13 English colonies were founded either as proprietary orcorporate colonies.
In 1775, 8 of them became royal colonies.
The European colonial empires in the New World were “Settlement Colonies”- large number of the Europeans went to
settle and lived therepermanently.
The settlement colonies were important to the economies of thecolonial powers as
● market for manufactured goods in Europe
● source of mines –gold and silver
● plantation agriculture –sugar cane and tobaccoproduced by slave

labour.
The slaves were imported from Africa in Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
English colonies in the New World became populous because Englandallowed religious minorities to settle there.
Overseas colonies of England founded by private companies – allowedtheir settlers some degree of self-government.
France and Spain were not allowed the non Catholics to go in theNew World.
Consequences of Exploration and Discoveries
Colonial conquest.
Rapid growth of trade.
The Commercial Revolution that brought about great changes - new business methods, an increase in prices
and growth of moderncapitalism.
Spread of Christianity and Western ideas.

The growth of the slave trade.
Rise of mercantilism - a believe that a country would be rich andstrong if it exported more than it imported.
The colonies served good for mercantilism because
● supply raw materials and slaves
● Closed markets for manufactured goods
● good ports or vital waterways
Colonial Rivalries and Wars
The Spanish claimed over islands of the Philippines inhonor of King Philip II brought disputed with
Portugal.
The Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494- was the so-called Lineof Demarcation which set the boundaries b/n Spain
and Portugal.
But, the Spanish conquest of Philippine Islands, archipelago in 1542 marked the beginning of Spanish rule over
the Philippines centered at Manila for more than 300years.
By the 17th C, the Dutch and English compete for the control ofAsian trade from the Portuguese.
The Dutch controlled the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) whilethe English dominated India.
The Dutch, French and English also took over Latin America,the West Indies and the United States.
The English established the 13 colonies b/n 1603-1733.
The Dutch settled New Netherlands in 1424 but taken byEnglish in 1664.
The European colonists of the 17th C were also fought majorwars.

The English and French fought frequent wars for predominance on the European and North American continents
The King William’s War of 1689-97 also known as the War ofthe League of Augsburg,
the Queen Ann’s War of 1702-13 or the War of Spanish Succession.
King Georges War of 1744-40 or War of the AustrianSuccession.
The Seven Years War of 1754-63 or the French and IndianWar began in America and ended in Europe. It
concluded a global series of Wars from 1689-1763 b/n Britain and France
Britain became the lone European imperial power inNorth America between the Atlantic Ocean and
the Mississippi River since 1763.
British victory in the French India War gave an enlargedmainland empire but brought new problems because
The war had been expensive
The acquisition of French and Spanish territory gave theBritish new administrative tasks

Week 3 History Lesson Notes

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UNIT ONE

HISTORY AND THE HISTORIAN’S CRAFT

1.1 The Meaning and Use of History

The term History can be defined as

 Helps us to learn about what people did in thepast.

 To understand the present and foresee thefuture developments.

 To have abroad understanding of national andinternational issues.

1.2 Key Elements in the Studying of History

In history, every statement must be supportedby evidence.

Historical sources are divided into two: Primaryand Secondary sources.

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They are better sources of history.

Examples: -History books -Plays

-Novels - Oral traditions etc.

It could be taken as both primary and secondarysources.

B. Interpretation- clear understands of the meaning of our evidences.

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1.3. The Study of Ethiopian History

The North had:

Been in contact with the outside world since ancient times.

The archaeology of northern Ethiopia is well studied.

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1.4. Periodization in History

Time is an important factor in thestudy of history. It serves for

• Proper understanding of past events.

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1 The Development of Savagery 2,000,000-8,000

Civilization 5000- present

2 Objects early humans made Instrument Stone Age 2, 000,000-5,000

Bronze Age 5,000-4,000

Iron Age 4,000 to Present

3 Aspects of HumanEconomic Life Hunting andgathering 2,000,000-8,000

Farming andAnimal 8000 -1750

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Ancient: 1250 BC to 5th C AD

Medieval: 5th C AD to 16th C AD

Modern: 16th C to Present.

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 It was divided as: Pre-Colonial, Colonial

 Periodization in Ethiopian history is different from the rest of African countries.

Ancient: 1000 BC to 1270 AD

Medieval: 1270 AD to 1855 AD

Modern: 1855 to Present

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THE ETHIOPIAN REGION AND THE HORNOF AFRICA

• Languages and Linguistic Processes

A. Afro-Asiatic: this super family is sub-divided into thefollowing families:

Cushitic: linguists divided this language family intofour branches:

Northern: is represented by Beja, spoken innorthwestern Eritrea bordering the Sudan.

Central: Agaw includes Awign, Kunfel, Qimant;Hamtanga and Bilen.

Southern: represented by Dhalo in Kenya and Nbuguain Tanzania.

 Semitic: is divided into two:

 North: Ge'ez, Rashaida (spoken around Eritrea-

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o Transverse : Amharic, Argoba, Harari, Silte,Wolane and Zay.

o Outer: Gafat (extinct), Gurage and Mesmes(endangered).

Language classification did not remain static.

5.2. The Aksumite Kingdom

Was not the first state that emerged inEthiopia.

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Our information about Aksum comes from

inscriptions and written sources.

Inscriptions are available in three ancientlanguages- Sabean, Greek and Geez

The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea