History of Ethiopia and the Horn (Hist 1102)

UNIT THREE

POLITICS, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN

ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN TO THE END OF THE
THIRTEENTH CENTURY
 3.1 Emergence of States

1. Factors for the emergence of state

 The beginning of sedentary agriculture.
Trade : facilitated the development of state
Religion: played prominent role in maintaining the
social and religious affairs of their people
 State
Refers to an autonomous political unit having popula-
tion, defined territory, sovereignty and government
with the power to decree and enforce laws. State was
the outcome of regular cultural process.
Ethiopia and the Horn is one of the regions in Africa
where early state formation took place.
 3.2 Ancient States in Ethiopia and the
Horn
 North and North East
Punt
 Punt was the earliest recorded state in Ethiopia and the Horn.
 The evidence on Punt comes from Egyptian hieroglyphic writ-
ings, accompanied by vivid paintings that describes series of
naval expeditions
 Pharaoh Sahure- sent expedition to collect myrrh, ebony and
electrum
Pharaoh Asosi- took dancing dwarf “dink" to Egypt from Punt
Queen Hatshepsut – sent ships under Nubian Captain Nehasi via
Wadi-Tumilat.
 The expedition welcomed by the Puntites King Perehu.
 The expedition was able to return collecting frank incense, cin-
namon, sweet smelling woods (sandal), spices, ivory, rhinoceros
horn, leopard and leopard skins, ostrich feathers and egg, live
monkeys, giraffes, people etc.
 Cont…

Export items from Punt to Egypt

Iron, bronze, asses, foxes, cattle, animals fur, dying and
medicinal plants
Import items from Egypt to Punt
axes, daggers, swords, knives, sickles, clothes, bracelets,
necklaces, beads ,trinkets
 Hatshepsut presented the ritual importance of
Amun ---- god
Khebis of the Netjeru-- divine or ghosts land
 There is no clear evidence for the exact location of punt
but it is suggested that it probably stretched from
Swakim or Massawa to Babel Mandeb (Gate of Tears)
 Cont…

Da’amat
 The state known as Da’amat had a center a little to the
south of Aksum.
 Inscription of the king of Da’amat tentatively dated to the
fifth century BC. The followings are familiarized with
Da’amat kingdom.
◦ Mukarib.- politico- religious title
◦ Almouqah -principal god
◦ Astarr - Venus god,
◦ Na’uran- light god,
◦ Shamsi- sun god
◦ Sin - moon god
The center of the kingdom was Yeha.
There are also other cultural centers of the kingdom
 Cont…
1. Yeha:
Located 30 kms to the northeast of Aksum and oldest of these
centers.
It probably emerged around 1, 000 BC
Remains of walls of some of its buildings and stone masonry
are still standing. Eg. The Great Temple of Yeha
2. Hawulti Melazo
Situated to southeast of Aksum, stone tablets are inscribed in
rectangular temple
3. Addi-Seglemeni
Located at 10kms southwest of Aksum.
4. There were also other cultural centers like Addi Gelemo, Addi
Grameten, Addi Kewih, Atsbi Dera, Feqiya, Hinzat, Sefra, Senafe,
Tekonda etc.
 Cont…
The Aksumite State
 The nucleus of the Aksumite state was formed around 200-100 B.C.
 Aksumite territories extended from the Red Sea coast in the East to
the Western edge of Ethiopian plateau overlooking the vast Nile
Valley in the west and from the northern most corner of Eritrea
and possibly as far south as northern parts of Shewa.
 According to Periplus of Erithrean Sea:
◦ Adulis on the western coast of the Red Sea was the major port of Ak-
sum.
◦ The document also mentioned ports of Aden (Eudaemon) Gulf like
Avalites (Zayla) and Malao (Berbera), and Indian Ocean Benadir
Coasts like Serapion (Moqadishu), Nicon (Brava) and Merca.
◦ The major items of export - ivory, myrrh, emerald, frankincense and
spices, gold, rhinoceros horns, hippopotamus hides, tortoise shells ,
curiosity animals like apes.
◦ Zoscales - king of Aksum, used to speak the Greek language, the
Lingua Franca of Greco-Roman world.
◦ Aksum also had relations with Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Laodicea (A-
sia Minor).
 Cont…
 Christian Topography also tells some information about
Aksum

Written by Cosmas Indicopleustes

Describes commercial activities of the Red Sea areas.
Mentions the internal long distance trade between Aksum and
a distant region called Sasu rich in cattle
Practice in silent trade.
Aksumite kings like Gadarat, Aphilas, Endybis, Wazeba,
Ezana, Ousanas II had extensive contacts with the outside
world notably with the South Arabia.
Aksum was one of the four great powers of the world (i. e.
Roman Empire, Persia, China and Aksum) at the time as
recorded by a writer, Mani.
Aksum was sufficient sources of timber for ship building
technology
 Continues…..
 Kaleb (r. 500-35) expanded overseas territories of Ak-
sum beyond Himyar and Saba, but the local prince
Dhu-Nuwas was converted to Judaism, marched to
Zafar and Nagran
 Dhu Nuwas was defeated and Kaleb appointed
Abraha as governor of Arabia that continued until
570 A. D.
 Kaleb was succeeded by his son Gabra Masqal (535-
48) who built a church at Zur Amba in Gayint.
 Cont…
o Decline of Aksumite Empire
a. Internal factor.
 Environmental degradation
 Plague infestation
 Rebellions of the Beja, the Agaw and Queen Bani al
Hamwiyah (Yodit) finally sealed the collapse of the Ak-
sumite state
b. External factor
 The destruction of the port of Adulis by the Arabs around
702
 Cont…

 Achievements
Indigenous script and calendar
Art and architecture which greatly influenced the post Ak-
sumite periods. The Aksumite obelisks and other church
buildings (such as Debre Damo) are best examples
Music (the hymns of St. Yared)
Urbanization
Administrative and governance system
Agricultural system including irrigation etc.
 Cont…
Zagwe Dynasty
 Founded as the Aksumite center shifted southwards to Kubar, ru-
ral highland of the Agaw.
 Merra Teklehaimanot married Masobe Worq, the daughter of the
last Aksumite king Dil Na'od.
 Merra-Teklehaimanot's successors include Yimirahana Kirstos,
Harbe, Lalibela (1160-1211), Ne'akuto La'ab, Yetbarek etc.
 The Zagwe Dynasty is believed to have ruled from c. 1150 to 1270,
however.
 The Zagwe Dynasty made its center in Bugna District within Wag
and Lasta, more exactly at Adafa near Roha (Lalibela).
 The territory extended to northern Shewa in the south, the Lake
Tana region and the northern part of Gojjam in the west.
 Exported items included slaves, ivory and rare spices.
 Continues……..
 Imported items: cotton, linen, silver and copper vessels, drags and
newly minted coins.
 The Zagwe period was a golden age in Ethiopia's art, architec-
ture, paintings and the translation works from Arabic into Ge'ez,
well developed as an extension of the Aksumite civilization
 The excavation of numbers of churches from bed rock is its best
achievement
 The rock-hewn churches can be classified in to three types:
1. Cave: with some decoration inside, similar with natural cave, eg.
Bete-Mesqel.
2. Semi-hewn: are with detailed interior decoration and partial dec-
oration outside.
 Cont….

• They are not totally separated from the surrounding rock.

Their roofs or walls are still attached to the rock, eg. Bete
Denagil, Bete Debresina/Mikael, Bete Golgota, Bete
Merqoriwos, Bete Gabri’el-Rufa’el and Bete Abba Libanos.
3. Monolithic: with detailed decoration in the interior and ex-
terior parts.
◦ They are completely separated (carved out) from sur-
rounding rock, eg. Bete Amanuel, Bete Giyorgis, Bete
Mariyam and Bete Medhanialem.
 Bete Medhanelem is the largest of all and Bete Giyorgis is
said to be the most finely built in the shape of the Cross.
 Lalibela wanted to establish the second Jerusalem to avoid
difficulties of Ethiopian Christians encountered in their
journey to the Holy Lands.
 Cont…
 The Downfall of Zagwe Dynasty
a. Problems of royal succession
b. Oppositions from groups claiming descent from the an-
cient rulers of Aksum.
Based on the legend of the Queen of Sheba, Solomonic
rulers claimed the Zagwe rulers as “illegitimate”
Yekuno-Amlak (r. 1270-1285), who claimed decent from
the last Aksumite king Dilna’od, organized his forces de-
feated the last king of Zagwe, Yetbarek at a battle in
Gaynt and proclaimed the “restoration” of “Solomonic”
Dynasty
 Cont…
 East, Central, Southern, and Western States
A. Bizamo:
 Located on the southern bend of Abay River just opposite to the present dis-
tricts of Gojjam and around the current Wambara area.
 It was founded in the eighth century and had early connections with Damot. 
B. Damot:
 Expanded its territories into most of the lands the south of Abay and north of
Lake Turkana as well as west of Awash and east of Didessa.
 Motalami was a prominent king of Damot in the thirteenth century.
C. Enarya:
 A kingdom in the Gibe region in southwestern Ethiopia.
 The royal clan was Hinnare Bushasho (Hinnario Busaso).
 the king (Hinnare- Tato)
 The real power rested with Mikretcho (council)
 Awa-rasha (king's spokesperson)
 Atche-rasha (royal treasurer).
 Cont…
D. Gafat:
Lies south of Abay (Blue Nile) River adjoining Damot on
the south western periphery.
It was inhabited by Semitic speaking population related to
Harari and the Gurage.
Practitioners of their own indigenous religion.
paying tribute to the Christian Kingdom
Gambo and Shat are Gafat clan names.
The state was governed by rulers bearing the title of
Awalamo.
 Cont….
 Muslim Sultanates
A. Shewa:
Makhzumi Khalid ibn al-Walid, who set up the Makhzumite Sul-
tanate in 896 A. D
B. Fatagar:
Founded around Minjar, Shenkora and Ada’a in the 11 th century
C. Dawaro
located between upper waters of Awash and Wabi- Shebelle ex-
tending to Charchar in Northeast and Gindhir in Southeast.
 Valuable information on Dawaro by an Egyptian courtier Ibn
Fad Allah el-umari.
Dawaro had a currency called hakuna
D. Bali:
It was separated from Dawaro by the Wabi-Shebelle River and
extended southwards to the Gannale Dirre River.
Trade was mainly based on barter exchanging cattle, sheep, cloth
It had strong army composed of cavalry and infantry.
 E. Ifat
It was established by Umar Walasma, who claimed de-
scent t from Hashamite clan
The sultanate was fertile and well watered.
Inhabitants earned from wheat, sorghum, chat, millet
and teff, and animal husbandry.
Others: Arababani (between Hadiya and Dawwaro),
Biqulzar, Dera (between Dawaro and Bali), Fadise, Gi-
daya, Hargaya, Harla, Kwilgora, Qadise, Sharkah (West
of Dawaro and North of Bali in Arsi) and Sim
 3.3 External Contacts
A. Egypt - introduction of Christianity to Aksum established a new pat-
tern of relation between the region
B. Mediterranean world or the Greco-Roman World.- common com-
mercial interest in the Red Sea area against their rival Persians
C. South Arabian Kingdoms
The Legend of Prester John
 The legend was developed when the balance of the crusade war
fought over Jerusalem between the Christians of Europe and the
Muslims of the Middle East was in favor of the latter
 The geographical location of the country of Prester John was not
known to Europe for over a century.
 Rich and powerful Christian ruler in middle of the 12 th century
 The Europeans began to regard Ethiopian Christian Kingdom as the
land of Prester John since the only Christian kingdom between the
Red Sea and the Indian sub-continent was the Ethiopian Christian
Kingdom.
 3.4 Economic Formations
A. Agriculture and Land Tenure System
 The main base of ancient states' economy in highland areas was
plough agriculture.
 The most ancient system of land holding which survived in many
parts of Ethiopia and the Horn is the communal land tenure system.
 Communal right to land is a group right.
 Rist is a kind of communal birthright to land by members of the fam-
ilies and clans whose ancestors had settled and lived in the area over
long periods.
It is inherited from generation to generation in accordance to customary
law.
 The rist owners were known as bale-rist.
 Gult is a right to levy tribute on rist owners’ produce.
 The tribute collected by bale-gults,
 Gult right that became hereditary was called Riste-Gult
 Con….
B. Handicraft
 Metal work, pottery, tannery, carpentry, masonry, weaving, jewelry, basketry
 The artisans were mostly despised and marginalized.
C. Trade
 Internal and international trade.