History

• Review Questions

  • The most important trade route for the export of Ethiopian products in the fourteenth and fifteenth century was: a) Adulis b) Zeila c) Massawa d) Berbera 2. The Muslim state which reorganized the Muslim resistance against the Christian kingdom was: a) Adal b) Showa c) Ifat d) Bali 3. At which battle did Imam Ahmed score a decisive victory over the Christian forces? a) Woina Dega b) Hazalo c) Shimbra Kure d) Lake Tana 4. The Oromo socio-politico-military organization was based on: a) monarchical institution b) Gada system c) Qallu institution d) none 5. Which of the following is true Under the gada system? a) the abba Bokus exercised absolute power. b) the abba dulas were ruling over their people. c) the council of elders lead the Oromo nation. d) the transfer of political power was hereditary. 6. The Qallus were: a) intermediaries between the Oromo people and Waqa. b) providing political leadership. c) leaders of the fighting age-group. d) advisors of the abba Gada. 7. Which of the following is not the consequence of Oromo expansion? a) It weakened the Christian State. b) It reduced the power of Muslim states. c) It led to the interaction of different people with the Oromos. d) None II. Match items of column A with their appropriates under B: A. 1. abba gada 2. battle of Wayna Dega 3. Imam Mahfuz B. a) belong to Borana confederacy b) the sky god c) the spokesman of gada in power 4. Mecha-Tulema 5. Waqa d) Barentu branch e) Imam Ahmad was killed f) defeated by Lebne Dengel g) a war-leader III. Say 'true' or 'false': 1. Imam Ahmed defeated the Christian forces using the firearms he received from Ottoman Turkey. 2. The Oromo are ignorant of agriculture before their expansion. IV. Identify the following: 1. Ahmad Badley 2. Bati Dil Wenbera 3. Gelawdewos 4. Seble Wengel 5. Chaffe 6. Abba Sera V. Answer the following: 1. What were the reasons for the success of Muslim forces at Shimbra Kure? 2. Describe why Portugal and Ottoman Turkey involved in the wars between the Christian and Muslim states. 3. Why did the Oromo population movement succeed? 4. What were the consequences of the Oromo population movement and expansion? 5. What were the causes for the Oromo population movement and expansion? UNIT SIX THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOM AND PEOPLES AND STATES IN THE REST OF THE ETHIOPIAN REGION (1543-1855) Introduction This unit deals with the history of the Christian kingdom from 1543 to 1855. It starts with the recovery of the Christian highland kingdom from the defeat it faced in the hands of the Sultanate of Adal. But its efforts at revival were disturbed later on by elements of regional power struggle. This period of regionalism was called the Zemene Mesafent (period of regional warlords). The unit also discusses the history of different peoples who had their own local states in the southern half of the Ethiopian region. It also treats societies which are not so highly organized in the region. Objectives After learning this unit you will be able to: - explain the attempts to use the Catholic religion to serve political ends; - explain factors for the isolation of the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia from Europe until the nineteenth century; - list the advantages of the establishment of a permanent capital at Gonder; - explain the political, economic, and social conditions during the Zemene Mesafint that led to economic and political stagnation of the kingdom; - describe the main political, economic, social and cultural organization and life in the states of the southern, eastern, western and central Ethiopia region; - outline the inter-connections and inter-relations among various peoples and states of the Ethiopian region, and those of the rest of the Horn of Africa; - explain the external relations with the world outside the Horn of Africa. Terms to know: Abdicate, Explorer, Kawo, Recovery, Assassination, Faction, Masonry, Restoration, Autonomy, Fasting, Mikrecho, Revival, Castles, Glory, Monolithic, Sabbath, Catholicism, Hulet Ledet, Moti, Shifta