ETHIOPIAN HISTORY OF

ARCHITECTURE

Adama Science and

Technology University:
4. Harar

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 An overview of History of urbanization
History
 As towns and cities like Axum, Lalibela and
Gondar developed in the geo-political region of the
northern highland Christian Ethiopia, Harar and
Jima were among the major cities of the regional
kingdoms of predominantly Muslim in the southern
geo-political region of the present day Ethiopia.
 The three classical major institutions: the palace,
the church and the market had enormous roles in
the development of towns in the northern highland
Christian kingdoms
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 …An overview of History of urbanization…
 There were many other traditional small towns
such as Adwa, Antalo, Challigot, Sekotta,
Woldiya, Debretabor, Motta, Dima, Debrework,
Merto Lemariam, Ankober, Angolala and Debre
Birhan
 However most of the towns were found as a
seat of the conquering king, as administrative
centers and military garrisons either singly or
in a combined form

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 …An overview of History of urbanization…
 There are some factors which contributed to the
discontinuity of urbanization and urban development
 The difficult terrain (rugged and mountainous) hindered
transport and exchange of goods.
 The negative traditional outlook and attitude of people
particularly in despising certain occupational groups such
as masons, black smiths, weavers, potters and merchants
 In peace time the rulers have to move their courts to
demonstrate effective control and garner their share of
local resources in other times due to lack of peace had
resulted in a continuous shift of centers known as the
“moving capital” of feudo-military Ethiopian political
capital
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 An overview of History of urbanization
 The military political setup plundered the peasants
and lived at their expenses
 The resulting low level of surplus accumulation of
the traditional farming
 The surplus extracted was not accumulated for
investment purposes, but rather distributed mainly
through banquets
 Generally cities owed their origin to the interactive
action of the political and military power of the
ruling elite rather than economic functions
These factors have resulted in a cyclical rather than
a cumulative urbanization
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 …An overview of History of urbanization…
 In the 17th and 18th centuries parallel to the
development of the northern Christian empire
was the rise of regional kingdoms in the
southern region of the present day Ethiopia
 Among these southern kingdoms included
Hadya, Dawro, Bali, Jan jero, Mansho (in
Kaffa), Enarya, Keffa etc.
 The kingdoms were divided into a number of
districts, each under governor, and the whole
area was surrounded by a ditch or thorn fence
with custom houses set in the intervals
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 …An overview of History of urbanization…
 Unlike the northern urbanization trade had played a
very important role in the southern regions
 For example one of the capitals of the kaffa kingdom,
Bonga (dated 14th -15th century) had two markets for
foreign merchants – Bonga for Christians and Kaya
for Muslims.
 Among the Oromo Kingdoms were Limu, Enarya,
Jimma, Guma, Gera and Gomsa.
 One of its greatest ruler Abba Jifar II (1861-1934)
made Jimma its important trading center.
 Another very important historical and influential city
state in the Eastern part of Ethiopia was Harar
founded
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in the in the early
History of years of 1500
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 …An overview of History of urbanization…
 The founder of Harar was Sultan Abu Beker,
who didn’t reign for long, for he was shortly
afterwards killed by Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim al-
Gazi, known as ‘Gragn’ in the Christian
Ethiopia.

With this brief overview of history we will

continue our discussion with Harar and its
civilization……….

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 Harar and its civilization
Some historical facts:
 Harar was probably founded by a colony from
Hadramaut in South Arabia during the 19th century
AD
 It was the capital of Muslim rulers such as Ahmed
Gragn from 1520-1577
 The surrounding city wall was originally built by Nur
ibn al Wazir (nephew of Ahmed Gragn) in the 16th
century
 With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Harar
become Ethiopia’s main gate for imported goods
 Harar was occupied by Emperor Menelik II in 1887
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FM (PhD)
 Harar and its Civilization…
 The present Harar consists of the old Arab
influenced walled town (Jugal) and a young
European influenced town on the western side.
 Harar is one of Ethiopia’s world heritage site.
Harar Jugol has been included in the World
Heritage List in 2006 by UNESCO in
recognition of its cultural heritage.
 As Axum was the window for Christianity,
Harar is the same for Islam.

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 Harar and its civilization

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 Jugal and its quarters

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 Morphology of Jugal

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 Shrines and Mosques

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 Tour in the city of Harar-Andegna Menged &
Cheleko Square

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 Faras Magala curently Chelenko Square

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 Duk Ber

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 Andegna Menged in the morning

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 Andegna Menged at dusk

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 Duk Ber- ready for festival

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 C H
M U
R Y
V E
OU
Y
NK
H A
T
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