RADICAL ACADEMY

Date
ND nd
2 SEMESTER 2 HISTORY HOME TAKE EXERCISE WITH
RELATED SHORT NOTES FOR GRADE 11
Academic year  2012E.C

UNIT VIII: PEOPLES AND STATES IN ETHIOPIA AND THE

HORN BETWEEN 1520s AND 1855(9pds)
8.1 The relationship between the Christian highland kingdom and the
sultanate of Adal(1520s to 1559)
Rivalry between the Christian highland kingdom and the sultanate of Adal
Causes of the rivalry
Foreign intervention (Portugal and Ottoman Turkey)
Consequences
Adal was the successor of the Walasma dynasty of Ifat and Harrar. It had a strategic location both
further in the lowlands from the Christian kingdom and along the Zeila trade route.
During the expansion of the medieval emperors, the other sultanates were conquered and subdued
one by one. Then in the late 14th century, the sultanate of Adal began to coordinate the opposition
against the Christian kingdom. It also obstructed the external trade and relations of the kingdom.
King Dawit(r.1380-1412) campaigned to subdue Adal and marched his army as far as Zeila. But he
was unsuccessful. His successor king Yeshaq(r.1413-1430) was killed fighting the Adal. However,
king Zera Yaqob(r.1434-1468) was finally able to defeat Adal and kill its amir Ahmad Bedlay in
1445. In 1516, another Christian king Lebne Dengel did the same thing to Imam Mahfuz and his
forces. The Christian kingdom maintained its superiority until the coming of Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim al-
Ghazi (or Ahmed Gran) in the 1520s.
Ahmed Gran was able to defeat the army of Lebne Dengel(r.1508-1540) first at Shimbra Kure in
1529 leading a combination of the Adal, Harari, and Somali army. He chased the Christian kings and
controlled most of the Christian kingdom from the Red Sea to Shoa. He was finally defeated at the
battle of Woina Dega in 1543, by a joint army of the Portuguese and king Gelawdewos.
8.2 Population movements (2pds)
The Somali and Afar population movement
The Afar and Somali population movement was began earlier than the oromo population
movements.
Causes –Drought
-Famine
-Land pressures
The above causes led to the Afar and Somali people to move the Harari plateau. This led to conflicts
among the Afar, Somali, Argoba and Harari in the SE. Later on, Imam Ahmed of Adal was able to
unite the Afar, Somali, Argoba and Harari people’s by using the statement “peoples in the same
religion are brothers. So, war is unintended between us.”

The Oromo population movement

Original Homeland of the Oromo
According to Professor Heberland which is also supported by Muhammed Hassan, the original
homeland was indicated to the highlands of Bale and Sidama, particularly Muhammed Hassen
indicated Meda Wellabo.
Causes of the Oromo Population Movement
Different scholars are suggested different causes:
1. Demographic factors i.e increase in the number of people and livestock beyond the capacity
of land.
2. Pressure from the Somali people.
3. The promotion of gada classes.
What factors facilitated their movement
1. Both the muslim sultanate and the Christian kingdom were took weak as a result of war. As
a result, both changed their political center.
-The muslim evacuated from Harar to Awsa.
-The Christian moved to Northern Tana.
2. The mechanisms they used to assimilate people.
a. Mogasa: the mechanisms of assimilating a newly conqured people to the oromo people.
b. Guddeffecha: a system by which an oromo family adopt a non-oromo individuals.
Directions and Stages of the Oromo Population Movement
Long before their expansion, the oromo people divided in to two major groups i.e
a. The Barentu Confederacies
-Composed of the Karayu, Marawa, Ittu, Humbana, Akachu, Wollo and Arsi clans.
-They moved out the North-easterly direction.
b. The Borena Confederacies
-Consisted of Mecha, Tulama, Southern Borana and Guji clans.
-They followed a North-Westerly direction.
The movement had two stages:
First stage: was a period of small and slow movement in the first half of the 16th C.
Second stage:started around the mid-16th C and lasted up to 1618.

The Oromo Traditional Institutions of Governance

Since the oromo believed in one supreme God, they had a religious institution called Quallu. They
also had the political and religious system of Gada. This an age-grade system in which gada grades
succeeded one after another every 8 years. There were ten classes and Gada or butta ceremonies
were held every 8 years. When an individual reached 80 years, he leaves that Gada system. Women
did not take part in the Gada system.

Major Charactertics of the Gada System

1. It was a democratic system in which positions were held on the basis of election and merit.
2. Gada ceremonies were held every 8 years and leaders were elected periodically.
3. Each Gada official had specific jobs.
Abba Boku- chaired the general assembly, the chaffe.
Abba Dula-had military functions and led the military force and the campaigns.
Abba Sera-led court proceedings as a judge (minister of justice)
Abba Alenga-the one who excutes the decisions of the Abba Sera

Consequences of the Oromo Population Movement

1. It changed the political nature of Ethiopia.
2. Resulted in wall surrounded city of Harar.
3. Resulted in the destruction of many small states like that of Dawaro, Fatagar and Limu
Enarya.
 4. Shift of the political centre of the Christian kingdom.

8.3 Relationship between the Christian highland kingdom and Catholicism (1pd)
Introduction of Catholicism
In 1557 the Portuguese catholic missionaries arrived in Ethiopia. These groups of catholic
missionaries were called Jesuits or the society of Jesus. After they arrived in Ethiopia, the catholic
missionaries started their endeavour to convert Christian kings in to Catholicism. Their attempt to
convert Gelawdewos was unsuccessful. But they were successful by king Susenyos (1607-1632) in
1612.

What factors convinced Susenyos to accept the new religion?

a. To get military support from Portuguese.
b. His admiration of their organization discipline.
c. The prospect of getting alternative religious faith.
Then in 1622, Susenyos declared Catholicism as the state and official religion of Ethiopia and took
the following measures.
a. Prohibition of circumcision
b. Lifted the observance of the Sabbath.
c. Outlawed fasting on Wendsday and Friday
d. Prohibition of Tabot
e. Denouncement of the cult of Ethiopian saint
f. Eating pork was allowed

These measures brought trouble and led to religious civil war in the country. Usually, Susenyos
supporters were his Royal families like that of his uncle Sahile Kirstos.
In June, 1632, around 8000 peasants lost their lives in the bloody war with the royal families. In the
same year Susenyos convinced willingly transferred his power to his son Fasilades. Fasil
immediately took the following measures to restore peace and stability.
a. Restoration of the Orthodox faith
b. Expulsion of the catholic missionaries
c. He began a close door policy where by no European missionary was allowed to come to
Gonder.
Consequences
8.4 The Gonderine period (1632-1769)
Following the period of instability i.e the wars of Ahmed Gragn and the Oromo population
movement, the Christian kingdom shifted its center to the regions of North of River Abbay.
Gelawdewos, Minas and Serse Dengil tried to revive their exhausted kingdom. But they could
not succeed. For security reasons they were forced to move their mobile political center to
the North. This trend of mobile capital ended when Gonder was established as apolitical
center.

Gonder was founded by Fasilades around 1636. The establishment of Gonder as a capital city
was a landmark in the history of Ethiopian urbanization.
1. Series of impressive castles were constructed
2. Around 60000-70000 people’s were living in Gonder
3. Churches and church schools were built
4. Typical urban institutions emerged like house servants and prostitutions
5. Gonder became big market
6. Diverge people were living in Gonder
 7. The culture of ruling classes were emerged
Gonder reached at her highest stage of glory during the three successful kings:
1. Fasilades (r. 1632-1667)
2. Yohannes I (r. 1667-1682)
3. Iyasu I (r. 1682-1706)
During the Gonderine period, traders were mostly muslims known as Jeberti. They were also
other occupational groups like the Bete Israel (Felasha). They were engaged in such
activities as masonory, pottery basketry and iron works.
After the 3 successful Gondarine kings, the economic prosperity and political center of
Gonder was declined. Political disorder and social unrest became common in the city. In
1706, Iyasu I was assssinated by his son Tekle Haymanot.
From the year 1706-1769, 6 kings were ruled Gonder.
1. Tekle Haymanot (1706-1708)
2. Theophilus (1708-1711)

3. Yostos (1711-1716)
4. Dawit III (1716-1721)
5. Bakaffa (1721-1730). Hi wife Mentewab of Quara also played a key role from 1728 or
1730 to 1769, the period commonly known as the Mentewab era. She was supported
by her strong brother,f Welde Leul to whom she gave the title of Ras Bitwoded.
Mentewab lost power in 1769 to the Tigrean warlord, Ras Michael Sehul. Michael
Sehul came to Gonder, killed the reigning king Iyoas (1755-1769) and took the title of
Ras Bitwoded.

THE ZEMENE MESAFINT, ERA OF PRINCES (1769 – 1855)

What was the nature of the state in this period?
1. Ethiopia was divided within itself into several regions, with no effective central authority.
2. The monarchy was nominal and symbolic.
3. The Yejju lords dominated the other lords of Northern Ethiopia.
4. There were constant rivalries and fights among various lords to expand their territory and
to become the guardians of the king of kings at Gondar.
5. The internal crisis was further aggravated by the doctrinal divisions within the Church.
While Ethiopia was weak and divided, there was an increasing international attention towards the
region. An era of increased involvement of Europeans in Ethiopia and Africa at large. This entailed
the twin processes of state formation in Africa and the inevitable attraction/inclusion into the
global interstate system.
The most intriguing question among Ethiopianists and others is ‘How did Ethiopia remain the only
independent old (ancient) state amidst European colonization?’

The International Situation:

o -1798, Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt; the intensification of British-French rivalry;
o -increasing awareness in Britain, France and Russia for the strategic significance of
the Near and Middle East;
o -influx of European political, religious and commercial adventurers.
Hence the three dominant motives of Europeans in Africa were born in this period:
a. Profits, preferably without engagements;
b. Strategic aspects, example the British concern for the commercial empire of India;
c. Opening up and eventual partition of Africa.
d. There was also the humanitarian (anti-slavery) and missionary motive (assisting Ethiopian
church against the menace of Islam).
Ethiopia’s International Relations:
o -foreign trade through Massawa and other smaller outlets as far south as Zeyla;
o -missions to import bishops from Alexandria (the oldest and institutionally most
important);
o -pilgrimages to the holy cities of Jerusalem and Mecca;
o -occasional visits by foreigners (via the Red Sea coast or Nubia).
In fact, Ethiopia’s connection with the outside world was seriously curtailed after the Turkish
control of Massawa in 1557. Hereafter, a traveler appeared only once in a generation. Even though
the Turkish bid to conquer northern Ethiopia as a province of the Ottoman Empire had failed, they
were not completely dislodged out of the coastal areas.(since 1557) They were posted at the island
of Massawa and an area which they called Habesh(later named Suakin), levying duties over
incoming merchandise.
In spite of occasional influence over the local chiefs of Arkiko on the mainland, Turkish control of
the outlet neither obstructed Ethiopian trade nor posed any threat to the survival of the state. The
decline of trade on the coast from the 17th century led to the ultimate withdrawal of the Ottoman
governor of Massawa, and his replacement by the naib (deputy) of Arkiko, a mainland chief of the
Belew tribe. In the subsequent centuries the Ottoman Empire gradually declined so much so that by
the 19th century it has been considered as “the sick man of Europe”.
The country’s international relations were severely restricted after the disaffection between the
indigenous Orthodoxy and the Roman Catholicism of the Jesuits (Spain & Portuguese) in the early
17th century. Some historians termed the policy of Ethiopian kings following the expulsion of the
Jesuits as “closed door”.
The standing legacies of the Portuguese were: theological ferment, and suspicion and hostility
towards the ferenj. After the Portuguese intrigues at the Gonderine court, Ethiopian suspicion of the
ferenj persisted for about 200 years. The advent of George Annesley, Viscount Valentia(1804) was a
harbinger of a new era ending centuries of isolation. The two British travelers sir George
Annesley(1804) and his secretary Henry Salt(1805 & 1810) visited the court of Ras Wolde Silassie
at Antallo and promised friendship and commerce with Britain. The British-French rivalry
elsewhere was a leading motive for their exploits.
The “scramble into Ethiopia” began in earnest around 1830. The quarter of a century after this
witnessed the arrival of Europeans of all sorts, mainly British, French and German, for missionary,
scientific, commercial, and adventurous reasons.
Whatever their motives and whoever their sponsors, these European travelers invariably ended up
involving themselves in Ethiopian politics and seeking influence at the courts of the rulers. In spite
of the abiding mistrust of the ecclesiastical establishment, the initial tide of foreigners was not
considered as a serious threat by the political and commercial elite.
EGYPTIAN THREATS
The potential and actual threat to Ethiopian independence in this period came along with the
rebirth of Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his expansion to Arabia and particularly the Sudan. The
conquest of the Hijaz(coastal Arabia) rendered Massawa under Egypt and from 1813 onwards the
port was periodically governed by an Egyptian. Particularly, in 1830 and 1846 Egypt introduced an
active policy by transferring Massawa and Suakin from the pashalik of Hijaz to itself. In addition,
after the conquest of the Sudan in 1820 and the subsequent appearance of Egyptian armies and
administrators on the western frontiers, Ethiopia felt exposed on flanks, the north and west.
Muhammad Ali’s interest in conquering eastern Africa emanated from his realization of the
strategic importance of Egypt, as witnessed by the fierce confrontation between France and Britain
over the region. The two powers had planned to use the region as a land bridge between Africa,
Asia, Europe and Australia. Muhammad Ali realized that to forestall the occupation of Egypt the
best solution was to modernize his country and consolidate its military might. This grand project
could be financed only by an income from an African empire. Moreover, Muhammad Ali was
anxious to undertake his military adventure ahead of the British, who he knew had their eyes on
the Red Sea region.
Initially, Muhammad Ali’s thrust was delayed by three main reasons:
1. His army was occupied by the resistance of the Funj in the Sudan;
2. The British government’s warning regarding any invasion of Ethiopia, with whom a
friendship and commercial relations were envisaged by London;
3. Perhaps the principal reason was the deterrence by the stability and power of Ras Gugsa’s
administration.
The existence of an expansive and relatively well-organized and hostile Egypt drastically altered
the geopolitical situation of Ethiopia. Ethiopian rulers were quite aware of the imminent danger
posed to the nation’s territorial integrity, possibly to the very existence of the country. This was
reminiscent of the invasion of the Turks in the 16th century, hence the Egyptians were likewise
called ‘Turks’.
Increased Egyptian border activities led to confrontations and even armed clashes with Ethiopian
border officials at Wad Kaltabu in 1837 and at Debarqi in 1848. Dembiya, the fief of Dejach Maru
and latter passed to Ras Ali’s mother Menen, which included the border provinces from Armachiho
in the north to Agewmidir in the south, was the most affected area.
It was the Tigre lord Dejach Sebagadis Woldu who first breached Ethiopia’s isolationism by sending
an emissary named William Coffin to London about the middle of 1827. This is considered as
“Ethiopia’s first initiative in foreign affairs for many decades”(Ib.:58). This attempt to create
alliance with Christian Europe not only reiterated the traditional Ethiopian interest in firearms and
foreign skills but also exhibited a new interest in obtaining Massawa.
The Internal Situation
A host of factors added up through centuries to dissipate the monarchy:
o -the Gran Wars;
o -the influence of the Jesuits on the court;
o -doctrinal controversies in the Church;
o -the non-migratory Gonderine court and byzantine court life;
o -the great ethnic movements;
By 1800, Ethiopia by many standards was a weak state with serious internal problems and little
visible cohesion. Unlike other parts of Africa, however, it was not a mere conglomeration of closely
affiliated tribes. It was rather a more or less regionally organized society dominated politically and
culturally by the Christian and Semitic-speaking highland population.
The process of increasing regionalism and disintegration at the center had set in about the mid-18th
century. This came as a consequence of the weaknesses of the Gonderine kings who preferred the
luxuries of a settled court life to the vagaries of a roving king-soldier (in the fashion of the medieval
kings).
Regional governors and warlords had the day in the period of the Zemene Mesafint. Deposed kings
lived scattered at the courts of minor princess and far away monasteries. The reigning shadow king
was virtually powerless and penniless; by the 1830s he had no military forces and almost no
revenue. He lived on trifling local incomes, fines and charity, toll from the Muslim merchants of
Gonder. This amounted to an average of 300 Maria Theresa thalers per annum.
In contrast, Ras Wolde Silassie of Tigray(1790-1816) earned about 75,000MT while King Sahle
Silassie of Shoa had an annual income of about 80,000 to 90,00 MTs. Even very insignificant local
rulers had better incomes and led more decent lives than the puppet kings at Gonder.
Regional governors kept the entire revenues of their provinces and commanded their own armies.
Their utmost aspiration was to become the ras of the kingdom, or ras bitweded(the favorite duke),
and thereby the guardian of the king of kings? The monarchy was maintained merely as a symbol
and focus of national identity. It was, however, so weak that it could not prevent the incessant
warfare between the feudal lords.
The Church, which had served as another unifying factor and political mediator, was also consumed
with doctrinal and structural divisions. In contrast to the doctrinal confusion and political turmoil
in the country, there was a revival of Islam in the Red Sea area due to the Wahhabi movement, and
an increased religious consciousness and commitment of the Muslim population in and around
Ethiopia. This was a period in which Ethiopia was considered as “a Christian island in a Moslem
sea”.

The main political divisions of the early 19th century were:

o -north-Tigre;
o -center- Simen, Dembiya, Begemidir, Amhara, Lasta, Yejju and Wollo;
o -south- Gojjam and Shoa.
The Yejju Dynasty
The governor of Begemidir claimed prominence from his seat at Debre Tabor. The control of power
in the 1770s(1778) by a powerful Yejju lord, Ras Ali Gwangul(Ali Gudda/the Great), and a
succeeding line of six rases of his family as kingmakers inaugurated the so-called Yejju or Wara-Seh
dynasty. Of these, the most prominent was Ras Gugsa Marsu(1803-1825)who consolidated Debre
Tabor as the leading political center. His reign was the most peaceful of the Yejju rulers.
“The existence of powerful lords in the country does not necessarily mean that there was no state.”
This means behind the puppet kings there were Yejju ras bitwededs wielding state power. They
forced their vassals to pay tributes and to accompany them in military campaigns. They also had the
power of shum-sher over their tributary lords. Therefore, the title of ras bitweded was the highest
and the most prestigious during the period.
Tigre was more involved (than Shoa) in the politics of the center due to various political and
economic (trade route) reasons. There were internal rivalries between rulers of sub-regions, Shire,
Adwa and Aksum(also known as Tigre), Tembien, Inderta, Agame, and Hamassien. The two most
powerful lords of Tigre in the period were: Ras Wolde Silassie ruled Tembien and Inderta(c.1800-
1816); Dejach Sebagadis ruled Agame(1822-1831).
The 1831 battle of Debre Abay between Dejach Wube of Simen and Ras Marye of Begemidir on the
one hand, against Dejach Sebagadis of Agame resulted in the control of Tigre by Wube until the end
of the Zemene Mesafint. The battle of Debre Abay or Mai Eslamai, Ras Marye vs Dejach Subagadis,
14 February 1831. This was one of the two most important battles of the latter Zemene Mesafint,
because it had involved all the major nobles of the period.
The Church was siso mengist, a partner in the business of governance. As an ideological arm of the
state it justified the archaic roots of government and served binding the nation with common faith
and identity. Therefore, both the disaffection between the indigenous Orthodoxy and Roman
Catholicism as well as the factional controversies within the Orthodox Church itself were
detrimental. What is more, the internal political struggles among the various nobilities had regional
and religious overtones. Emperor Tewodros had attempted to resolve the doctrinal intrigues in the
Church by issuing and edict which made Kara or Tewahido the national doctrinal basis.
8.5 Peoples and states of central, eastern, western and southern parts of Ethiopia (2pds)
Central: Shoa
Shoa was the southernmost region of Ethiopia which was a partially autonomous province
governed since about 1700 by a line of rulers who claimed Solomonic descent. Sahle Silassie(1813-
1847), the contemporary of Gugsa and Ali II, had even declared himself nigus, a testimony of the
autonomy his domain enjoyed as well as the destination of Shoa in the national politics.
Eastern: Harrar, Hausa
Harrar: ruled by the Adal sultanate since the 16th century?
Emir Ali ibn Daud(r.1647-1662) founder of the dynasty which remained until 1887.
Egyptian forces under Rauf Pasha occupied Harrar 1875-1885.
Followed by Emir Abdulahi.
The battle of Chelenqo in 1887, the defeat of Emir Abdulahi, and incorporation Harrar into the
Christian kingdom.
Hausa: ruled by the Walasma house of the Adal after the latter moved out of Harrar in 1577
due to increased Oromo pressure. The Afar chiefs whose title was Sultan ruled this state.

Western: Benishangul, Leqa Qelem, Leqa Neqemte

Southern: Kaffa, Walayitta, Yem, Gibe Monarchies
Kaffa had medieval origins, a onetime tributary of the Christian state.
The royal house was named the Minjo Dynasty, with its centers at Bonga and Andracha.
The king whose royal title was Tato was advised by a council of elders known as Mikrecho.
Agriculture and trade were the bases of the economy.
It was one of the places which resisted Menelik’s expansion in the 19th century. The kingdom was
finally incorporated into the Ethiopian empire in 1897, after the capture of its king Tato Gaki
Sherocho.
Walaytta: also known as the kingdom of Damot, it was incorporated into the Christian
empire during the reign of Amde Tseyon(1313-1344). It was founded by King Motalami, who
established the Walayta Mala dynasty. This dynasty was replaced in the 15th century by the so-
called Tigre dynasty, which claimed a northern descent.
The royal title of the king was Kawo.
Walayitta’s relations with the central state was cut off after the Gran Wars. It remained
independent until its incorporation in 1894. Its last king Kawo Tona fiercely resisted Menelik’s
army and was captured only after a bloody battle.
The Gibe Monarchies: these were five Oromo kingdoms i.e
Limu-Enarya (the earliest): Limu-Enarya, under Abba Bogibo or Ibsa (r.1825-1861), centered at
Saqa.
Jimma: emerged in the middle of the 19th C. It became popular under the rule of Sanna Abba Jiffar I
(r. 1830-1855). The state of Jimma depended on the ideological support of Islam and the
commercial prosperity from coffee and slave trade. Jimma submitted to Menelik II in 1881
peacefully under its ruler Abba Jiffar II (r. 1875-1934).
Gumma: was emerged in the first decade of the 19th C. Its political importance grew up under its
strong ruler. Oncho Jilcha.
Gomma: became an important state since 1820. Its strongest ruler was Abba Mano. Gomma was the
earliest Ghibe state to accept Islam.
Gera: was became well known around 1835 during its stronger ruler, Tulu Gunji.

UNIT REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. The Christian king who had defeated and killed Sultan Ahmed Badlay was
A. Zera Yacob B. Lebne Dengil C. Made Tseyon D. Dawit
2. Identify the one who did not fought at the battle of Woina Dega
A. Ahmed Gragn B. The Portuguese soldiers C. Lebne Dengil
D. Gelawdewos
3. All are the results of battle of Woina Dega in 1543 except;
A. Lebne Dengil lost his life
B. The Christian highland gained their independence
C. Ahmed Gragn was killed
D. The Christian army emerged victorious
4. Bati Del Wonebera was
A. The wife of Ahmed Badlay C. The wife of Imam Mahfuz
B. The wife of Ahmed Gragn D. The wife of Gelawdewos
5.Battle of Shimbra Kure was held in
A. 1529 B. 1542 C. 1543 D. 1535
6. The oromo socio-political-military organization was based on the
A. Monarchical institutions C. Gada system
B. Quallu institution D. All
7. Guddifecha and Mogasa in the traditional oromo community was
A. Means of mobilizing army to non-oromo
B. Means of assimilating oromo and non-oromo
C. Traditonal religions of oromo people
D. A place where oromo adult and young people got military training
8. Which one is odd from the others?
A. Akachu B. Humbana C. Mecha D. Karayu
9. What are the two major groups of the oromo people during their movement?
A. Marawa and Ittu C. Borana and Guji
B. Borana and Barentu D. Mecha and Tulama
10. Abba Dula was
A. Minister of defence B. Minister of justice C. Minister of finance D. All
11. The close door foreign policy was initiated by
A. Serse Dengil B. Tewodros II C. Fasilades D. Susenyos
12. A woman who excercised great political power in the Gonderian period was
A. Eleni B. Mintewab C. Taitu D. Seble Wongel
13. All are done by Fasilades except
A. Expulsion of the Jesuits
B. Restoration of the Orthodox faith
C. The establishment of permanent capital D. None
14. One of the following was not the characteristics of Zemene Mesafint?
A. Weak regional government while strong central government
B. Undermine trade and agriculture as the expansion of bandits and shifta
C. Religious controversy with in the Orthodox Church
D. Disintegration of Christian kingdom in to many years
15. Zemene Mesafint covered the period
A. 1769-1855 B. 1270-1769 C. 1270-1855 D. 1855-recent
16. Zemene Mesafint was ceased with the rise of
A. Kassa Hailu B. Kassa Mircha C. Gobeze Gebremedin D. Menelik II
17. The earliest Ghibe oromo state to accept Islam was
A. Jimma B. Gomma C. Gera D. Limmu Enarya
18. The royal title of the kings of Kaffa was
A. Kawo B. Negus C. Tato D. Azmach
19. When Wolayita incorporated by Menelik under his kingdom?
A. 1894 B. 1896 C. 1897 D. 1906
20. The stronger ruler of Limmu Enarya was
A. Abba Bagibo B. Abba Jiffar I C. Kawo Tona D. Tulu Gunji
21. Which one is wrongly matched?
A. Gumma- Oncha Jilcha C. Gera – Tulu Gunji
B. Gomma –Abba Mano D. Jimma –Abba Bagibo
 Matching
A B
22. Oncha Jilcha A. The ruler of Limmu Enarya
23. Abba Mano B. The last ruler of Wolayita
24. Tulu Gunji C. The last ruler of Kaffa
25. Abba Bagibo D. Minister o justice
26. Emir Abdullahi E. The ruler of Gomma
27. Kawo Tona F. Imam Mahfuz
28. Tato Gaki Sherecho G. Ahmed Badlay
29. Abba Sera H. The wife of Lebne Dengel
30. Zera Yacob I. The ruler of Gumma
31. Seble Wongel J. Minister of finance
32. Lebne Degel K. The last Emir of Harar
L. The ruler of Gera
Chronology
33. Battle of Woina Dega
34. The beginning of oromo population movement
35. The death of Sultan Ahmed Badlay
36. The annexation of Kaffa in to Menelik’s empire
37. The declaration of Catholicism as a state religion
38. Battle of Shimbra Kure
39. Battle of Sabra Kusa
40. The end of Zemene Mesafint
41. Battle of Fatagar
42. The death of Imam Mahfuz

Short answer
43. What was the main reason that leads the Christian highland kingdom and the muslim
sultanate of Adal in to clash?
44. Write the causes and consequences of the oromo population movement
45. List the characteristics of Zemene Mesafint
46. Why Susenyos accepted the religion of Catholicism?
47. Write the consequences of Gragn’s war

UNIT VI: PEOPLES AND STATES IN ETHIOPIA AND

THE HORN, 1270 TO 1520s (8pds)
6.1 The restoration of the ‘Solomonic’ Dynasty and the Christian
highland kingdom (4pds)
The Zagwe kings were challenged by the rulers and clergy of Tigre and Amhara as usurpers of the
throne. Their opponents claimed that the Ethiopian crown belongs to the Solomonic dynasty. There
was a legend that the first Ethiopian king Menelik I was the son of Queen Saba of Aksum and King
Solomon of Israel. Aksumite kings up to the last Dil Naod were considered as descendants of the
line of Solomon. The Zagwes were considered as illegitimate rulers.
An Amhara chief by the name Amha Yesus revolted against the last Zagwe king Yetbarek and
defeated him in 1270. Then he was crowned as Yekuno Amlak (1270 – 1285). Yekuno Amlak was
therefore regarded as the restorer of the Solomonic dynasty.
Medieval Ethiopian kings starting from Yekuno Amlak consolidated the state, expanded its territory
in all directions, and spread Christianity throughout their domains.
King Amd’e Seyon (r.1314 – 1344) was the most expansionists of the medieval kings. He conquered
the Muslim sultanates as far as the Red Sea coast and incorporated vast territories in the south.
King Zera Yaqob (r.1434 – 1468) was another great ruler of medieval Ethiopia. His most important
contribution was in the expansion of Christianity and consolidation of the church. He is the one who
attempted to solve one of the divisive issues in the Orthodox Church regarding the observance of
the Sabbath. This was done in the council of Debre Mitmaq in 1451.
Territorial extent
The medieval Christian kings continuously expanded their territories. At the beginning of the 16 th
century they have brought under direct or indirect rule most of the current territories of Ethiopia.
In addition to the territories of the Aksumites and Zagwe, they added large territorie from Suakin in
the north to Berbera in the southeast; and many of the southern and eastern principalities including
Ifat, Fatigar, Bali, Hadiya, Kaffa, etc.
Social, economic and political conditions of the kingdom
The basis of the state economy was agriculture. This was supplemented by incomes from trade. As
many of the sultanates along the coastal route were subdued, the state controlled the external
trade.
The medieval kings had no fixed capital unlike their predecessors the Aksumites and the Zagwe.
They governed the country by moving from place to place. Some of these temporary capitals were
in Menz, Tegulet, and Bulga in North Shoa, Yerer and Zequala in East Shoa, Hayq in Wollo, etc.
Their foreign relations included the traditional contact with Egypt, the pilgrimages to the holy
places of Jerusalem and the Middle East, as well as to the Mediterranean and Iberian countries of
Europe, specially Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
6.2 Peoples and states in Ethiopia
For several centuries, since perhaps the 9th century Islam had been gradually penetrating deeper
into the southern part of Ethiopia from the coastal areas. Several Muslim sultanates were
established starting from the Red Sea, along the lakes region to the frontiers of Shoa.
Muslim sultanates: Dahlak, Shoa, Yifat, Fatigar, Dawaro, Dara, Bali, Hadya, Adal, Arbabini, Sharka
Dahlak: was an active commercial center perhaps since the end of the Aksumite period.
This Muslim sultanate was tributary to Ethiopian kings.
Shoa: was also another sultanate which was established at about 896 AD between Awash
river and the highlands of eastern Shoa. It was ruled by the Makhzumite dynasty. This Muslim
dynasty was succeeded in 1285 AD by Walasma dynasty of the neighboring Muslim state of Ifat.
Ifat: founded and ruled by Walasma dynasty. It occupied the area between the eastern
slopes of Shoa and down to the Awash valley. Its influence extended to Zeila in the Gulf of Aden. The
Afar of Haussa plains paid allegiance to this sultanate. Its control of the Zeila trade route made it the
most powerful of the Muslim kingdoms.
Fatigar: located in the southeastern border of Shoa, around the middle of Awash River.
Dawaro: “was situated south of Shoa, bordering on Ifat on the right bank of the Hawash,
stretching southwards as far as the river Webi which marked the border with the neighboring state
of Bali. Dawaro therefore corresponds roughly to the present Arusi region.”
Bali: was located south of Dawaro, “between the Webi in the north and the Genale Doria in
the south, thus controlling the Somali plain.
Hadya: the most westerly of the sultanate, which controlled vast areas between the rivers
Awash and Gibe
Dara: a small sultanate situated somewhere east of the Abay River, perhaps bordering on
Bali.
Arbabini and Sharka: two small kingdoms located between Hadya and Dawaro.
Central and southern states: Damot, Kaffa, Enarya, Bizamo, Welayitta, Yem, Gamo Gofa,
 Kembatta, Agaw, Gurage (chiefdoms)
Damot: a once powerful state whose territory included the area south of Abay, west of the Awash
river, east of the Didessa river. During the medieval times Damot accepted Christianity when its
king Motolami was converted by Abuna Tekle Haymanot of the Debre Libanos monastery. Damot
also became a tributary of the Christian kingdom.

6.3 The Struggle with the Muslim Sultanates

The root causes of the rivalry between the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia and the various Muslim
sultanates were the control of trade and tribute. The immediate menace to the restored Solomonic
king Yekuno Amlak came from Ifat. The Adal sultanate which controlled the Zeila outlet also was a
concern. This rivalry reached its height during the reign of king Amd’e Seyon (1314-1344).
The Sultan of Ifat, Haq ad-Din, became increasingly aggressive, invaded Christian territory in the
highlands and burnt down churches, forcefully converted peoples to Islam. In 1328 Amd’e Seyon
defeated and killed Haq ad-Din, and combined Ifat and Fatagar as vassals under Haq ad-Din’s
brother Sabr ad-Din.
Again Sabr ad-Din began to plot against Amd’e Seyon allied with the other Muslim states of Hadya
and Dawaro. The king acted quickly and destroyed them one after the other. Hadya was defeated
and its sultan Amano captured. Fatagar was next reduced, followed by Dawaro and Ifat.
Thus ended the independence of Hadya, Fatajar, Dawaro, and Ifat which were all placed under
Jamal ad-Din, another brother of Sabr ad-Din, as ruler tributary to Abyssinia. The boundaries of
Ethiopia proper were carried to the edge of the plateau along the River Hawash.”
During the last quarter of the 14th century, the hostility between the successive kings of Ifat and the
Christian kingdom continued. The occupation of Zeila in 1415 by Negus Yeshaq brought an end to
the kingdom of Ifat.
After this the Walasma dynasty moved to Adal and established them at the lowland area of Dakar.
Hereafter, Adal emerged at the forefront of the struggle with the Christian kings. The rivalry
between the two protagonists continued until the reign of Zera Yaqob (1434-1468).

UNIT REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. The Makhzumite Dynasty belongs to:
a. Dahlak
b. Shoa
c. Adal
d. Harrar.
2. The Walasma Dynasty was originally from:
a. Ifat sultanate
b. Adal Sultanate
c. Harrar Sultanate
d. Shoa Sultanate.
3. Which emperor brought to an end the kingdom of Ifat?
a. Amd’e Seyon
b. Yeshaq
c. Zera Yaqob
d. Yekuno Amlak
4. The famous ruler of the medieval kingdom of Damot was:
a. Sabra ad-Din
b. Motalami
c. Ammano
d. Kao Tonna.
5. The Ewstatean controversy regarding the observation of the Sabbath:
a. a reflection of rivalries between monastic orders
b. had nationalist overtones
c. was solved at the Council of Debre Metmaq in 1451
d. all of the above.
6. Which Muslim sultanate was the oldest?
A. Shewa B. Hadya C. Fatagar D. Ifat
7. Which one is a non-muslim state?
A. Dawaro B. Fatagar C. Ifat D. Damot
8. Which of the following Muslim sultanate was not located along the Zeila trade route?
A. Shewa B. Dahlak C. Dawaro D. Ifat
9. Motalami was the ruler of
A. Kaffa B. Shewa B. Damot D .Fatagar
10. Who is the most expansionist medieval king?
A. Zera Yacob B. Made Seyon C. Yekuno Amlak D. Susenyos
11. By its geographic coverage, which one is the smallest muslim sultanate?
A. Dera B. Hadya C. Shewa D. Ifat
12. Who was the founder of the sultanate of Ifat?
A. Umer Walasma B. Motalmi C. Ammano D. Kawo Tona
13. The ruling dynasty of Wolayita was
A. Walasma dynasty B. Walayta Malla C. Makzumite dynasty D. All
14. Which kingdom usedthe titles of Azmach or Abegaz?
A. Dawaro B. Gojjam C. Gurage D. Kaffa
15. Who annexed Gojjam in to the Christian state in the early 14th
C?
A. Made Seyon B. Zera Yacob C. Susenyos D. Yekuno Amlak
Matching
A B
16. Abune Tekle Haymanot A. 1434-1468
17. Yekuno Amlak B. Founded the sultanate of Adal
18. Shewa C. Ruler of Damot
19. Made Seyon D. Founded shewan sultanate
20. Motalami E. 1314-1344
21. Zara Yacob F. Founded in the SE border of Shewa
22. Umer Walasma G. The sultan of Ifat
23. Fatagar H. The oldest muslim sultanate
24. Makhzumite dynasty I. 1270-1285
25. Haq ad-Din J. Converted Motalami in to christian