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    Unit One - History of Ethiopia and The Horn

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    This chapter provides an introduction to the history of Ethiopia and the Horn region. It discusses the nature and uses of history, sources and methods of historical study, the historiography of the region, and the geographical context. Key points covered include the definition of history, primary and secondary sources, oral sources, manuscripts, inscriptions, chronicles, travel accounts, and the professionalization of history in Ethiopia and neighboring countries.

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    Unit One - History of Ethiopia and The Horn

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    11 views11 pages
    This chapter provides an introduction to the history of Ethiopia and the Horn region. It discusses the nature and uses of history, sources and methods of historical study, the historiography of the region, and the geographical context. Key points covered include the definition of history, primary and secondary sources, oral sources, manuscripts, inscriptions, chronicles, travel accounts, and the professionalization of history in Ethiopia and neighboring countries.

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    unit one - History of Ethiopia and the Horn(1)

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    This chapter provides an introduction to the history of Ethiopia and the Horn region. It discusses the nature and uses of history, sources and methods of historical study, the historiography of the region, and the geographical context. Key points covered include the definition of history, primary and secondary sources, oral sources, manuscripts, inscriptions, chronicles, travel accounts, and the professionalization of history in Ethiopia and neighboring countries.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    11 views11 pages

    Unit One - History of Ethiopia and The Horn

    Uploaded by

    yomifgaramu
    This chapter provides an introduction to the history of Ethiopia and the Horn region. It discusses the nature and uses of history, sources and methods of historical study, the historiography of the region, and the geographical context. Key points covered include the definition of history, primary and secondary sources, oral sources, manuscripts, inscriptions, chronicles, travel accounts, and the professionalization of history in Ethiopia and neighboring countries.

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    History of Ethiopia and

    the Horn (Hist.1012)


    - Chapter one -

    Prepared by Minassie Deressu


    Chapter One – Introduction

    1.1 - The Nature and Uses of History


    A. Nature of History
    • Defn- “History” derived from the Greek word Istoria (inquiry or
    an account of one’s inquiries.)
    • A Greek historian, Herodotus (c. 484 – 425 B.C) – Father of
    History, was the first person to use the term.
    • It means all things that have happened in the human past (ordinary
    usage).
    • Organized and systematic study of the past (Academically) i.e, Involves
    the discovery, collection, organization and presentation of past event.

    Major Concern of History: The study of past human society and its
    interaction with the natural environment.
    • one of the key characteristics of the discipline: is conventionally
    divided into ancient, medieval and modern (Periodization)
    Chapter One – Introduction

    B. Uses of History – HISTORY:


    - Helps Better Understand the Present: i.e, knowledge of the
    past gives a balanced and in-depth understanding of current
    world situation.
    - Provides a Sense of Identity: i.e, helps to know who we are and
    where we fit in the world.
    - Provides the Basic Background for other Disciplines: Egs,
    literature , Economics Philosophy, etc.
    - Teaches Critical Skills: i.e to develop key research skills (find
    and evaluate sources and present clearly in writing)
    - Develop Tolerance and Open-Mindedness: i.e to free ourselves
    from cultural provincialism, acquire broad perspectives.
    - Supplies Endless Source of Fascination: (past people’s life
    offer a sense of beauty and excitement).
    Chapter One – Introduction

    1.2 - Sources and Methods of Historical Study


    “where there are no sources, there is no history”
    • Historical sources are broadly classified into two types:
    A. Primary Sources - are original or first hand in their
    proximity to the event. Egs: diaries, letters and minutes,
    etc.
    B. Secondary Sources - are second-hand published accounts
    about past events. Egs: textbooks, articles, etc.

    * Oral Data or Oral Sources - constitute the other category


    of historical sources and they are valuable to study the
    history non-literate societies. Egs: oral tradition.
    However, whatever the source of information-primary or secondary,
    written or oral- the data should be subjected to critical evaluation
    before it is used as evidence.
    Chapter One – Introduction

    1.3 - Historiography of Ethiopia and the Horn

    Defn- “HistorioGraphy” the history of historical writing,


    studying how knowledge of the past is obtained and
    transmitted.
    • Greek historians notably Herodotus (c. 484–425 B.C) and
    Thucydides (c.455-400 B.C) introduced the organized study and
    narration of the past.
    • Leopold Von Ranke (1795–1886) (“father of modern
    historiography”) , and his colleagues established history as an
    independent discipline in Berlin.
    Earlier forms of Historiography (For Ethiopia and the Horn):
    1. Periplus of the Erythrean Sea by anonymous author (1st C. A.D)
    2. The Christian Topography composed by Greek sailor
    Cosmas Indicopleustes (6th C.A.D)
    Chapter One – Introduction

    • Inscriptions: the earliest written Ethiopian material,


    found in Abba Gerima monastery in Yehadates, dates from
    the 7th C.A.D.
    • Followed by Manuscripts: discovered in Haiq Istifanos
    monastery of present day Wollo in the 13th C.A.D. etc.
    • Hagiographies: are sources for medieval Ethiopian
    history originating from EOC written in Ge’ez.
    • A parallel hagiographical tradition existed among Muslim
    communities of the country which offer tremendous
    insight into the life of a Muslim saint. Egs: Shaykh Ja’far
    Bukko of Gattira, in present day Wollo, in the late 19th C.
    • For historians, they have the benefit of providing insights
    into the country’s past.
    Chapter One – Introduction

    • Chronicles: Ethiopia had also an indigenous tradition of


    history writing called chronicles. First appeared in the 14 th C.
    and continue (sometimes in Amharic) into the early 20 th C.
    * The earliest and the last of such surviving documents are the
    Glorious Victories of Amde-Tsion and the Chronicle of Abeto
    Iyasu and Empress Zewditu respectively.
    Tell about the monarch’s genealogy, upbringing, military exploits,
    piety and statesmanship.
    Written accounts of Arabic-speaking visitors to the Coast: Egs:
    - al-Masudi and Ibn Battuta described the culture, language and
    import-export trade (in the 10th and 14th Cs)
    - Documents composed by Yemeni writers who were eyewitnesses to
    the events they described.
    Egs: the one composed by Shihab ad-Din, Muslim vs Christian war (16 th C),
    etc.
    Chapter One – Introduction

    • European missionaries and travelers to the


    development of Ethiopian historiography is also significant
    (From the early 16th C. until the late 19th C.)
    Egs: 1. The Prester John of the Indies, composed by a
    Portuguese priest, Francisco Alvarez who accompanied the
    Portuguese mission to the court of Lebne-Dengel in 1520.
    2. James Bruce’s Travels to Discover the Source of the
    Nile (travel account)
    • Foreign writers also developed interest in Ethiopian
    studies. Egs: A German, Hiob Ludolf (1624-1704),
    the founder of Ethiopian studies in Europe in the 17th C.
    • The early 20th C: saw the emergence of traditional
    Ethiopian writers. Egs: Aleqa Taye Gebre-Mariam, Aleqa Asme
    Giorgis and Debtera Fisseha-Giorgis Abyezgi.
    Chapter One – Introduction

    • After liberation: Tekle-Tsadik Mekuria formed a bridge between


    writers in pre-1935 and Ethiopia professional historians who came
    after him.
    - he published about 8 historical works.
    • Yilma Deressa wrote “A History of Ethiopia in the 16 th C.” He
    adressed the Oromo population mov’t and Muslim vs Christian
    war.
    • The 1960s: was a crucial decade in which history emerged as an
    academic discipline with the opening of the Department of History
    in 1963 at the Haile Selassie I University (HSIU).
    • The Department launched its production of BA theses towards the
    end of the decade, MA and PhD programs in 1979 and 1990
    respectively.
    • The Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES) which was founded in
    1963, is the other institutional home of professional historiography
    of Ethiopia.
    Chapter One – Introduction

    • Richard Pankhurst, the first Director and founding


    member of the IES is worthy of note here. He has authored
    or co-authored twenty-two books and produced several
    hundred articles on Ethiopia.
    • The professionalization of history in other parts of the
    Horn is a post-colonial phenomenon with the
    establishment of independent nations, a deeper interest in
    exploring their own past quickly emerged among African
    populations.
    Chapter One – Introduction
    1.4. The Geographical Contex
    • The term “Ethiopia and the Horn” refers to that part of
    Northeast Africa, which now contains the countries of
    Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
    • The region consists chiefly of mountains uplifted through the
    formation of the Great Rift Valley running down from Syria to
    Mozambique.
    • The diversity of the terrain led to regional variations in
    climate, natural vegetation, soil composition, and settlement
    patterns.
    • People across the region are remarkably diverse, but never
    isolated.
    • Ethiopia and the Horn lies between the Red Sea, Gulf of
    Aden and Indian Ocean on the one hand, and the present-day
    eastern frontiers of Sudan and Kenya on the other.

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