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process.
Factors for the emergence of state (Agriculture, trade, Religion)..
The beginning of agriculture & irrigation.
Trade : facilitated the development of state
Religion: played prominent role
Ethiopia& Horn is one of regions in Africa where early state
formation took place.
3.2 Ancient States in Ethiopia & Horn
1. Punt
1st historically known state)
the earliest state in Ethiopia and the Horn. Evidence on Punt comes from
Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. There was cultural & commercial relation
with Egypt.
Pharaoh Sahure- sent expedition to collect myrrh, ebony
Pharaoh Asosi- took dancing dwarf “dink" to Egypt from Punt
Queen Hatshepsut – sent ships under Nubian Captain Nehasi via Wadi-
Tumilat. She took incense, cinnamon, sweet smelling woods (sandal),
spices, ivory, rhinoceros horn, leopard and leopard skins, ostrich feathers
and egg, live monkeys, giraffes, people etc.
Export items from Punt to Egypt
Iron, bronze, asses, foxes, cattle, animals fur, dying and medicinal
plants
- Import items from Egypt to Punt: axes, swords, knives, clothes, bracelets,
necklaces, beads ,trinkets.
- Hatshepsut presented the ritual importance of Amun (god) & Khebis of the
Netjeru-- divine or ghosts land
Location of Punt: exact location of punt is not known/clear
but it is it probably stretched from Swakim or Massawa to
Babel Mandeb (Gate of Tears) and Cape Guardafui.
2. Da’amat
the south of Aksum. It dated to the 5th C BC.
Had contact with south Arabia
2. Christian Topography
Written by Cosmas Indicopleustes
Mentions long distance trade between Aksum & a distant region called Sasu,
in benishangul .
kings of Aksum would take to Sasu cattle, lumps of salt (probably salt
blocks) and iron to exchange for gold.
Practice silent trade.
an intermediary, AfeBusho
Mikretcho (council) Awa-rasha (king's spokesperson)
Atche-rasha (royal treasurer). The kings had residences in
Gambo and Shat are Gafat clan names. Rulers bearing the
title of Awalamo.
4. Muslim Sultanates
A. Shewa: the oldest sultanate. Founded by Makhzumi Khalid ibn
al-Walid, in 896 A. D , founded Makhzumite dynasty on north
eastern foothill of shewa
B. Fatagar(11th C) :- around Minjar, Shenkora & Ada’a.
C. Dawaro:- located between upper waters of Awash and Wabi-
Shebelle. Valuable information on Dawaro by an Egyptian courtier
Ibn Fad Allah el-umari. Dawaro had a currency called hakuna
D. Bali: occupying high plateau, separating basins of Shebelle and
Rift valley Lakes.
It separated from Dawaro by Wabi-Shebelle River & extended
southwards to Gannale Dirre River.
Trade was mainly barter exchanging cattle, sheep, cloth
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.
There were totally 58 steles in and around Aksum .The longest one of these stele
measures 33meters heights (the first in the world) and represents 14 -storied
building. It also bears pre-Christian symbols, which are a disc and a crescent
(half moon) at the top.
The second longest obelisk measures 24 meters height that was successfully
erected represents 9 -storied building
The third longest stele measures 21 meters and represents a nine-storied
The Zagwe churches are regarded as some of the finest
architecture of artistic achievements of the Christian world
B. Writing System
Sabean language had an alphabet with paleographical writing
from left to right and right to left alternatively.
The earliest Sabean inscriptions in Eritrea and Ethiopia date to
the ninth century BC.
By the first century AD, "Geʽez alphabet" arose, an abjad (26
consonant letters only) written left-to-right with letters identical
to the first-order forms of modern vocalized alphabet.
Ethiopia's ancient indigenous writing system has immense
contribution to the development of literature, art and the writing
of history.
1. Oromo calendar:- Based on astronomical observations of moon
C. CALENDAR