Name
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Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world, and a very interesting place. Located in East Africa,
Ethiopia is near the Red Sea, which separates Africa from Asia. Ethiopia is found in the region called the Horn
of Africa, so named because this eastern section of the continent juts away from the rest of Africa in a horn
shape. Several countries, including Ethiopia, are located on the Horn of Africa. All are known for being home to
ancient cultures, diverse people, and beautiful landscapes. In Ethiopia, for example, one can encounter deserts,
grasslands, savannahs, and tropical highlands. Let’s learn more about what makes this landlocked country in
eastern African so fascinating.
History of Ethiopia
Few places on Earth have a human history as rich as Ethiopia’s. Ethiopia has a long written history
dating back 3,000 years, but humans settled in the region much earlier than that. Historians know a lot about
Ethiopia’s prehistory, the time before written records. In fact, Ethiopia has some of the oldest hominid, or
human ancestor, bones on record. Hominid bones found in eastern Ethiopia date back to more than 3.2 million
years ago. One of the most famous skeletons found is that of a young woman, named Lucy by archaeologists.
Her bones, among the oldest human ancestor remains on record, were uncovered in 1974.
Several important ancient civilizations thrived within Ethiopia’s present-day borders. Two of these
civilizations were the Yeha and the Aksum, which may have grown out of Yeha. The temple ruins of the Yeha
people are an important historical site located in the Tigray province in northern Ethiopia. The Yeha civilization
predates the well-known Aksum civilization.
Aksum is both the name of a civilization and also the ancient town of the Aksum people. It is a vital
piece of Ethiopian history. Aksum served not only as the capital but also as an important center of trade with
foreign powers. There are several landmarks and significant ancient ruins located there. The stelae, or obelisks;
palace of the Queen of Sheba; several tombs of ancient kings; and the Church of Saint Mary of Zion are just
some of the important relics found in Aksum.
Have you heard of the Queen of Sheba? She was an important and powerful queen and is even
mentioned in the Bible. The Ethiopian people say that the Queen of Sheba had a son, Menelik, with King
Solomon. The people of Ethiopia claim that Menelik brought back the Ark of the Covenant after visiting King
Solomon. Christians believe that the Ark of the Covenant is a sacred object that held the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments, an important part of the Christian religion, provide moral guidelines for living
righteously and respecting others. A church in Aksum, Saint Mary of Zion, is said to hold the Ark of the
Covenant. While several other countries have also claimed to have the ark, Ethiopia’s connection to it is one
reason that many people in Ethiopia maintain a strong connection to Christianity.
Religion in Ethiopia and Africa
Until recent times, Ethiopia had a long history of rule under emperors. This ruling system is part of what
allowed Christianity to spread in Ethiopia. One emperor was Emperor Ezana, who ruled Aksum in the 300s CE.
During this time, trade was very important in Ethiopia, as it was close to many trade routes in the Red Sea. It
was through these trading networks that Christianity first came to Ethiopia. During Ezana’s reign, a young
shipwrecked sailor was captured in Aksum. His name was Frumentius. Frumentius visited with Emperor Ezana,
and gained his respect. Later, Frumentius converted to Christianity. When he visited Ethiopia again at a later
date, he helped convert Ezana to Christianity. The bishop of Alexandria named Frumentius the first bishop of
Aksum. The two men worked together to help Christianity become the official religion of Ethiopia.
By the mid-600s, the religion of Islam was practiced in North Africa. Islam was established by
Muhammad in 622 and then spread across North Africa. Muslim merchants and clerics started teaching their
faith along the coast of eastern Africa around the 700s and 800s. Since Islam was mostly spread through trade,
merchants were the first to convert. The lower classes were not very involved in trade and therefore did not
convert to Islam right away. Though Islam spread to many parts of Africa, it did not gain much influence in
Ethiopia, where Christianity was already well established and supported by its emperors. Today, there is a much
stronger Islamic presence in Ethiopia. In fact, more than 30 percent of the population is Muslim. This is quite
lower than other countries in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s neighbor to the north, Djibouti, has a population
that is 94 percent Muslim!
The Past Influences the Present
Religion—past and present—is an important part of Ethiopia, but it is not the only thing that makes this
country fascinating. For example, did you know that Ethiopia is one of only two countries in Africa not
colonized by Europeans? This is a source of pride for many Ethiopians. The history of Christianity in Ethiopia
is one reason that the Ethiopians were able to avoid colonization, as the colonizers often hoped to bring
Christian religions to an area.
You have learned that Ethiopia has had many emperors. Rule by emperors continued until 1974, when
the influential Haile Selassie was overthrown during a military mutiny. His fall from power marked the end of
3,000 years of rule by emperors.
As one of the earliest locations of human settlement, Ethiopia has also been important in terms of
agriculture. For thousands of years, food production has been an important part of life in Ethiopia. In fact, crops
like coffee and the castor bean likely originated in Ethiopia. This long history of growing food nearly halted
during a drought and famine during the 1980s. Thousands of people died from starvation, and millions more
were at risk of starving. The famine was made worse by unstable political conditions, making it difficult to get
aid to the people who needed it most.
Today, Ethiopia still receives international food assistance, but crops and food production have
rebounded. The country also has good international relations and is more stable than it used to be. Many people
who fled the country years ago because of political or environmental problems have since returned home.
Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent countries in the world. It is home to an interesting past and, most
likely, an interesting future.
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Questions
After reading the passage, answer the following questions:
Multiple Choice: (2 points each)
1. Which of the following best describes the
geography of Ethiopia?
2. Which of the following is a reason that
Christianity has endured in Ethiopia?
A. Ethiopia is all desert.
A. Colonization forced Christianity to
B. The geography is all mountainous.
remain.
C. Ethiopia enjoys a coastal geography.
B. The emperors supported Christianity.
D. The geography is varied throughout the
C. All other religions have been banned.
country.
D. Early humans in Ethiopia invented
Christianity.
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Short Answer: (8 points)
What are some ways that the past has influenced the present in Ethiopia? Use evidence from the reading
passage to help support your answer.