A Little Ethiopian History

Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in Africa, has a heritage dating back to first century AD. Traders from Greece, Rome, Persia and Egypt knew of the riches of what is now Ethiopia, and by the first century AD, Axum was the capital of a great Empire. This realm became one of the first Christian lands of Africa. Late in the 10th Century, Axum declined and a new Zagwe dynasty, centered what is now Lalibela, ruled the land.

Axum, Lalibela and Gonder now provide our greatest historical legacy. It was in the 16th Century that the son of the great explorer Vasco Da Gama came to Ethiopia, but then found a land of many kingdoms and provinces beset by feuds and War. Legend has it that Emperor Menelik I, the son of the Queen of Sheba and king Solomon, brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Axum, where he settled and established one of the world’s longest known, uninterrupted monarchical dynasties. The Ark is thought to still be protected by monks.

The well-trodden path through Ethiopia’s famous and fascinating historic places takes you through a scenically magnificent world of fairy-tale names, such as Lalibela, Gondar, Deber Damo and Bahar Dar. In Gondar, where are little guy is from, there are fairytale castles dating back to the 17th century.

More history to come...