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| Ethiopian Empire የኢትዮጵያ ንጉሠ ነገሥት መንግሥት | |
|---|---|
| 1270–1974 | |
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
 Ethiopia from 1952 to 1974 | |
| Official languages | Amharic |
| Religion | Orthodox Christianity |
| Dominant mode of production | Feudalism |
| Government | Monarchy |
The Ethiopian Empire was a feudal state in east Africa that existed from 1270 until the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974. Its rulers claimed to be descendants of the biblical King Solomon.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Formation[edit | edit source]
The slave state of Aksum began expanding south after the Arab Caliphate cut off its access to maritime trade in the seventh century. The war leaders became feudal princes of the areas they conquered. In the 13th century, the feudal ruler of the Shewa province seized power over all feudal lords.[1]
National conflict[edit | edit source]
For centuries, the Ethiopian monarchy fought against Muslim tribes for control of the coast, especially the Adal Sultanate. The Arabs supported their liberation struggle against Ethiopia in order to expand their trade. The 15th-century monarchs Zara Yaqob, Baeda Maryam, and Eskender fought against Adal and other Muslim provinces for much of their reigns.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sík Endre (1970). The History of Black Africa, vol. 1: 'The Peoples of Black Africa before the End of the 15th Century; The Hamito-Semitic Peoples of Africa'. [PDF] Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó.