Introduction to the Module

This teaching material is prepared for a common course given to Students of Higher Learning

Institutions. The purpose is to help students understand the history of Ethiopia and the Horn

from ancient times to 1995 as a base for shaping and bettering the future. The module

generally focuses on major topics in the history of Ethiopia and the Horn including social,

cultural, economic, and political developments and their interrelationships there of

The module is divided into seven units each of which has its own specific objectives. The

first unit defines history, describes why history is important, how history is studied and

introduces the region of Ethiopia and the Horn. The second unit describes peoples and

cultures in the region. The major topics treated in the unit are human evolution, Neolithic

Revolution and settlement patterns, as well as religion and religious processes. Based on

these historical backgrounds, the third unit discusses states, external contacts, economic

formations and cultural achievements in terms of architecture, writing, calendar, and others

to the end of the thirteenth century. Unit Four treats political developments, evangelization

and religious movements, trade and external relations of the region from the late thirteenth to

the beginning of the sixteenth centuries. It explains how the Christian Kingdom and the

Muslim sultanates evolved in the region and how their interactions shaped the history of the

region in the pre-sixteenth century. Unit Five discusses a history of the region from the early

sixteenth to the end of the eighteenth centuries. It deals with interaction between states,

foreign interventions, religious controversies, population movements, and how these

contributed to the integration of peoples across ethnic and religious diversities to the end of

the eighteenth century. Besides, the unit describes peoples and states in different parts of
Ethiopia and the Horn. The unit ends up its discussion depicting major conditions and

achievements of the Gondarine period, and the Zemene Mesafint(Era of Princes) in which

the Yejju lords played a dominant role.

The social, cultural, economic, and political experiences of Ethiopia and the Horn in the

nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries that played significant role in shaping the

modern history of the region are given space in unit six. Historical processes including state

formation and power rivalry, trade, external relations, foreign threats and major battles,

centralization and modernization attempts, Italian occupation, and socio-economic conditions

from 1800 to 1941 holds central position in the modern history of the region. It also

underlines how personalities helped change the setting, how societies interacted, and its

implication for history of Ethiopia and the Horn. The last unit discusses the historical

developments in the region from the period of liberation from the Italian occupation (1941)

to the period of the ratification of the FDRE Constitution (1995). Important issues discussed

in this regard include consolidation of Imperial Power and socio-economic conditions,

oppositions made by various social groups, national questions, reforms, and political

developments.

Despite serious attempts made the module is far from being comprehensive in terms of

coverage of themes and issues across time and spaces in the region. Certainly, however, the

topics and approaches considered in the module merit the attention of learners and instructors

of higher institutions.
1. Course description of course objectives

Objectives

The general objective of this module is to introduce students to the diverse histories of

Ethiopia and the Horn and the extent to which interaction between peoples throughout the

region and with the outside world have shaped the history of the region.

The specific objectives of the module are to enable students to:

✓distinguish the nature and uses of history;

✓identify pertinent sources for the history of the peoples of Ethiopia and the Horn;

✓describe changes and continuities that unfolded in Ethiopia and the Horn;

✓elucidate the causes, courses and consequences of events that happened in the region;

✓explain the nature of the region’s external contacts and their effects;

✓appreciate peoples’ achievements, heritages and cultural diversities of the region.

2. Unit objective and content

✓.identify the nature of peoples' interaction and major reasons of conflicts between the

Christian Kingdom and the Muslim Sultanates and consequences;

✓.analyze the circumstances that led Portuguese and Turkish ' involvement in the

region;

✓.explicate the major population movements and their contributions to the

intermingling of peoples in Ethiopia and the Horn;

✓.identify the political, social and economic developments among peoples and states of
Ethiopia and the Horn.

3.Quesions and answers

I Choose the best answer

1, which the major agent of Islamic expansion ,trade and Muslim state formation in the horn.

A, Afar B, Somali C, Argoba D,none

2,The Oromo integrated non_oromo through adoption mechanism ________and______.

A,Guddifacha and moggosa

B, Melba and muden

C, Dabale and Game

D, All

3,The Afar had an indigenous governance system known as______.

A, Shir

B, Ibn said

C, Makabanto

D, All above

4, Which of the following Garaa classes are worngly statement.

A, melba Harmufa

B, Kilole Birmajii

C,Mudena Dulo

D,Bifole Mul'ata

5, Which one is odd?

A,shewa

B,Amhara
 C,lastas

D,Afar

6.________________ is an institution through which the oromo socially organized

themselvs,administeredtheir affairs defended their territories,maitained law and order and

managed their economies.A Gadaa system B Abba Gadaa C Abbaa

Caffee D Abbaa muda E

none

7.Who introduced "closed door" which means isolated country from all Europeans for about a

century and half.A Emperor Gelawdewes B ,Emperor Fasiledas C

Emperor susenyos D, Emperor sarse dengil

8. Which one of the following are classified under Gadaa- grades?

A Folle B Qondala C Melba D

Mudena E A and B F none

9.Who is the leader of portugess army forces in the christian kingdom and sultanate of adal

confict?

A Vasco dagama B christopher da Gam C Joao BermudezD pedro-paez

10. The wife of the Imam Ahmed Ibn Al Gazi ,Bali del wanbara is the of muslim military

commander of adal known as___________________

A Emir Nur Mujahid B Emir Ali Ibn Da'ud C Mahfuz D none

II Say " true" or "false"
1. The major conflict between the christian kingdom and the sultanate of adal is to control

trade routes.

2. The sultanate of shewa and Ifat were established by the walasmal and makhzumite dynasties

respectively.

3. Gadaa system is not organized the oromo society in to age-grades and generation sets

delineating members social,political, and economic responsibilities.

4. The military conflict between the Christian kingdom and sultanate of adal in the late of

sixtenth century and seventh century was responsible for the population movement of

argoba,afar and somali.

5.In 1574 sartsa dingl's(1563-97) cavalry led by Azzaj Haliba defeated Robale gadaa(1570-78)

at Woyna Daga.

6. lebne Dingle who was defeated by Ahmed Gragn became fugitive up to his death in 1540.

7.Gadaa System are constituted not elements of democracy.

8.The political, social and economic process of the medieval period were the major factor for

the people interaction across regions.

9. Guddifacha was a system of adoption non_oromos commly as oromsu.

10.The Afar predominantly lived in Northern Easter Ethiopian and in northern Dijibouti,

although some have also in habited southern part of Eritrea.

III Matching

"A" " B"

1. Abba-dula a. Birth-8 years

2. The Portuguese war leader b. Christopher dagama

3. Luba c. Battle of shimbira kore

4. Emperor Fasiledes d. 9-16 years

5. Christian army was defeated e. Close door policy

6. Muslim army was defeated f. King converted to catholism

7. Game g. Battle of woyena dega

8. Emperor Susinyos h. 41-48 years

9. Dabale i. Father of scepter

10.Abba bokku j. War leader

Iv Write short answer

1. What was the cause of conflict between the Christian highland kingdoms and the sultanate of

Adal?

2. What was Gadda system?

3.Discuss Oromo integrated non_oromo through two adoption mechanism?

4.Why the reason of population movement from one places to another places of Ethiopia and the

horn?

5.what are the consequence of conflict between Christian kingdom and Adal of sultanate ?

V. Fill in the blank space

1. The revival of long-distance trade caused competition and struggle for control over the trade

routes between the _____________ and ___________.

2. In Ethiopia and the Horn the causes of movement could be attributed to the region to the

regions long socio-political condition involving ________ , ________ and ________.

3. The conflict between the Cristian kingdom and the sultanate of Adal was responsible for the

movement of the ________ , ________ and _________.

4. The _________ were major agent of Islamic expansion, trade and Muslim state formation in

the horn.

5. The ________ system was through the Oromo socially organized themselves and manage their

economic.
Answers

I. Choice II. True or false

1. C 1. True

2. A. 2. False

3. C. 3. False

4. C. 4. False

5. D. 5. True

6. A. 6. True

7. B. 7. False

8. E. 8. True

9. B. 9. False

10. C. 10. True

III. Maching

1. J. 6. G

2. B. 7. D

3. H. 8. F

4. E. 9. A

5. C. 10. I
IV. Writing

1. The Gadaa system was an institution through which the Oromo socially organized themselves,
administered their affairs, defended their territories, maintained law and order, and managed their
economies.

2. The revival of long - distance trade caused competition and struggle for control over the trade routes
between the Christian highland kingdoms and the muslin participants.

3. a, Guddifacha

Guddifacha refer to the adoption of the child by a foster parent.

b,moggasa

Moggasa was system of adoption non_Oromos commonly known as oromsu.

Moggosa was undertaken by the Aba Gada on behalf of the clan.

4. The movements of people from one place to another have played important roles in shaping

the history of Ethiopia and the Horn. population movements occurred in the Horn due to various

reasons, in varied scales and followed different directions. People moved from place to place due

to pull and push factors, which can be summed up as natural and social. Specifically, people

move out from their habitats in search of resources and better living environment in general. In

Ethiopia and the Horn, the causes of the movements could be attributed to the region's long

socio-political conditions involving military conflicts, drought and demographic factors.

Population movements of the medieval period had extensive effects including the integration of

peoples across ethnic and religious lines. Major outcomes of population movements during the

period under consideration include religious, ethnic and linguistic interactions and intermingling

of peoples. Specifically, this has resulted in intermarriage of peoples, change of abode, original

culture and evolution of new identities.

5. The Muslim-Christian conflict had resulted in a number of consequeconsequeion and success
of the Oromo population movement.

 On the positive side, it should be restated that the war had arguably resulted in
cultural interaction among the peoples of Ethiopia.

 Interaction of Linguistic and religious interactions accompanied by

intermarriages among peoples of the various cultural groups were one of these

V. Fill in the blank

1. Christian Kingdom and the Muslim principalities.

2. Military conflict, drought and demographic factors.

3. Argoba, Afar and Somali.

4. Argoba

5.Gadda