History of Ethiopia
Added on 2022-12-20
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Running head: HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA
HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA
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Author Note
HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
1HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA
Abir, M. (1968). Ethiopia: the era of the princes: the challenge of Islam and re-unification of the
Christian Empire, 1769-1855. Praeger.
As the title suggests this particular piece of literature deals with the historical period of
Ethiopia which is referred to as the ‘Era of Princes’, spanning through the 18th and the 19th
centuries. This particular period was characterized by the shift of the seat of political power from
the northetne part of the nation to the central part, known as the Shewa province, which was
dominated by the rulers of Oromo and Muslim background, and they had made their influence
felt by means of challenging the rulers who were already ruling in the region. Abir (1968) had
very skillfully portrayed the political turmoil that the shift of power had sparked by means of
showing the rift between the Christians and the Muslims. Abir (1968) had portrayed that the
entire kingdom was not just threatened by inner political instability but also from external force
as well, especially Islamic Egypt and the Christian Protestant Missionaries from Britain,
Switzerland and Germany, thereby making the nation vulnerable to the battle between
civilizations, Muslims and the Christians for the sake of gaining influence in the nation. The
northern part of the nation had come under the influence of Egypt and the warlords had received
ample amount of support from Egypt and the armament supply was provided by the Turks, while
the central part of the nation had come under the influence of the Christian rulers who were
being supported by the Protestant missionaries of Britain, Switzerland and Germany who had
wanted to convert the Ethiopians to Protestantism and the major cause of concern of the Church
in the nation was that of the influx of the fire arms that was viewed upon with suspicion as it was
likely to bring instability to the nation, more than the zeal of the missionaries. The segregation of
the nation into the Christian and the Muslim bloc was even more problematic as a lacuna in the
presence of a strong central government made things worse in the nation. On the basis of a
Abir, M. (1968). Ethiopia: the era of the princes: the challenge of Islam and re-unification of the
Christian Empire, 1769-1855. Praeger.
As the title suggests this particular piece of literature deals with the historical period of
Ethiopia which is referred to as the ‘Era of Princes’, spanning through the 18th and the 19th
centuries. This particular period was characterized by the shift of the seat of political power from
the northetne part of the nation to the central part, known as the Shewa province, which was
dominated by the rulers of Oromo and Muslim background, and they had made their influence
felt by means of challenging the rulers who were already ruling in the region. Abir (1968) had
very skillfully portrayed the political turmoil that the shift of power had sparked by means of
showing the rift between the Christians and the Muslims. Abir (1968) had portrayed that the
entire kingdom was not just threatened by inner political instability but also from external force
as well, especially Islamic Egypt and the Christian Protestant Missionaries from Britain,
Switzerland and Germany, thereby making the nation vulnerable to the battle between
civilizations, Muslims and the Christians for the sake of gaining influence in the nation. The
northern part of the nation had come under the influence of Egypt and the warlords had received
ample amount of support from Egypt and the armament supply was provided by the Turks, while
the central part of the nation had come under the influence of the Christian rulers who were
being supported by the Protestant missionaries of Britain, Switzerland and Germany who had
wanted to convert the Ethiopians to Protestantism and the major cause of concern of the Church
in the nation was that of the influx of the fire arms that was viewed upon with suspicion as it was
likely to bring instability to the nation, more than the zeal of the missionaries. The segregation of
the nation into the Christian and the Muslim bloc was even more problematic as a lacuna in the
presence of a strong central government made things worse in the nation. On the basis of a
2HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA
critical analysis, it can be said that through this projection of the religious conflict in Ethiopia,
Abir (1968) had necessitated the for a strong central government in order to ward off the foreign
influence and subdue the religious conflict. Also, the usage of the term Galla for designating the
Oromo people has been criticized as it is derogatory term and thus not academically acceptable.
Bartnicki, A., & Mantel Niećko, J. O. A. N. N. A. (1969). The Role and Significance of the
Religious Conflicts and People's Movements in the Political Life of Ethiopia in the Seventeenth
and Eighteenth Centuries. Rassegna di studi etiopici, 24, 5-39.
This particular piece of literature showcases the religious rift that had been a part and
parcel of the Ethiopian history. The author of this particular piece of literature had tried to show
that Christian faith in Ethiopia was not just at a risk of threat from the Muslim governments of
the neighbouring Egypt but was also suffering from within due to the fact that several
denominations had tried to exert its influence in the nation which made the Christians much
more vulnerable to the Islamic military forces of the neighbouring region. As per the view of
Bartnicki and Mantel Niećko (1969) Ethiopian Christians were mainly belonging to the fold of
Coptic Christians and were considered to be under the spiritual leadership of the Patriarch of the
Coptic Christian Church based at Alexandria. However it was a ceremonious leadership as the
Ethiopian Coptic Christians were free with regard to the matters of faith. The Islamic invasion of
the Christian villages based on the Nile valley by the Islamic forces had caused the control of the
Coptic Christian Church based at Alexandria to be diminished, and that had also inspired the
Islamic forces within Ethiopia to wage onslaught on the Christians of the nation and take control
over. Apart from that the interference of the Portuguese to convert the people to Roman
Catholicism and the attempt of the Protestant missionaries of Britain, Switzerland and Germany
to convert the Christians to Protestantism had made the Christians more vulnerable. On critical
critical analysis, it can be said that through this projection of the religious conflict in Ethiopia,
Abir (1968) had necessitated the for a strong central government in order to ward off the foreign
influence and subdue the religious conflict. Also, the usage of the term Galla for designating the
Oromo people has been criticized as it is derogatory term and thus not academically acceptable.
Bartnicki, A., & Mantel Niećko, J. O. A. N. N. A. (1969). The Role and Significance of the
Religious Conflicts and People's Movements in the Political Life of Ethiopia in the Seventeenth
and Eighteenth Centuries. Rassegna di studi etiopici, 24, 5-39.
This particular piece of literature showcases the religious rift that had been a part and
parcel of the Ethiopian history. The author of this particular piece of literature had tried to show
that Christian faith in Ethiopia was not just at a risk of threat from the Muslim governments of
the neighbouring Egypt but was also suffering from within due to the fact that several
denominations had tried to exert its influence in the nation which made the Christians much
more vulnerable to the Islamic military forces of the neighbouring region. As per the view of
Bartnicki and Mantel Niećko (1969) Ethiopian Christians were mainly belonging to the fold of
Coptic Christians and were considered to be under the spiritual leadership of the Patriarch of the
Coptic Christian Church based at Alexandria. However it was a ceremonious leadership as the
Ethiopian Coptic Christians were free with regard to the matters of faith. The Islamic invasion of
the Christian villages based on the Nile valley by the Islamic forces had caused the control of the
Coptic Christian Church based at Alexandria to be diminished, and that had also inspired the
Islamic forces within Ethiopia to wage onslaught on the Christians of the nation and take control
over. Apart from that the interference of the Portuguese to convert the people to Roman
Catholicism and the attempt of the Protestant missionaries of Britain, Switzerland and Germany
to convert the Christians to Protestantism had made the Christians more vulnerable. On critical
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