Ethiopia Travel and History

Mountainous North African Country with a Fascinating Culture

Jun 15, 2009

Ethiopia is a land of contrasts and extremes with some of the most beautiful mountains and scenery on the African Continent.

For years Ethiopia was known as the "Hidden Empire". While its centuries of isolation have ended, few today are aware of its fascinating history, diverse peoples and unusual geographic features.

Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea and Sudan to the north, Sudan to the west, Kenya to south, Somalia to the east and Dijbouti to the northeast. Ethiopia has a large population for an African country, estimated at over 85,000,000.

Ethiopian History

Travelers to Ethiopia are usually amazed with the rich historical treasures of the country that dates back for thousands of years.

The Aksum kingdom had been established in Ethiopia by the third century CE. It reached its peak under King Ezana in the fourth century, who converted his entire empire to Christianity. Ethiopia stayed in touch with the Western world for a while, but relations were severed by the seventh century.

The Encyclopedia Americana explains: “For almost 1,000 years afterward, Ethiopia was isolated from the rest of the Christian world in its efforts to defend itself against the encroaching Muslims from the north and east, as well as from pagan invaders from the south.” In particular did the Muslim conquests of Egypt and Nubia cut Ethiopia off from the rest of Christendom.

Since 1991 a new government has brought reforms toward making this land a more open society. As a result, it is now possible to take a closer look at this once hidden country.

Ethiopian People and Culture

It is hard to make generalizations regarding the Ethiopians because the variety among them is so great. There are the Afar nomads who roam the scorching Danakil Desert. To the west there are the dark-skinned Nilotic peoples. In the south live the Oromo people. The Amhara people dwell in the central highlands, where they cultivate the windy mountaintops.

With such a varied people, it is not surprising that Ethiopia has nearly 300 languages and dialects. Ethnic groups have their own hairstyles, type of clothing, and architecture. The architecture ranges from the circular bamboo tukuls common in the south to the thatched adobe homes in central Ethiopia and storied stone structures in the north.

Ethiopian Food Staples

When people think of Ethiopia, images of starving children are probably what come to mind. Most people think of Ethiopia as a place of famine, poverty and hardship. Yet Ethiopia produces an amazing variety of crops, ranging from wheat, barley, bananas, maize, and cotton to grapes, oranges, and a profusion of spices. Ethiopia also claims to be the original home of the coffee plant, and to this day Ethiopia is a major producer of coffee beans.

Teff is the unusual grain which resembles grass, the seeds of which are ground to provide Injera, Ethiopia’s main staple food and national dish. Injera is made in a special oven and is often presented in a large round basket, the decorative mesob. Injera tastes pleasantly sour and is flat, like a pancake.

What to See and Do in Ethiopia

One prominent feature of the stunning geography of Ethiopia is is the Great Rift Valley, which bisects the country on its way to Kenya. Along its edges are found many hot springs and caves. Seven beautiful lakes dot its course. Highlands of over 2 000 meters (6 600 feet) rise on either side, culminating in the north in the Simien Mountains, one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Not far from the Simien Mountains is Lake Tana and the source of the Blue Nile. This has its own impressive gorge that winds its way westward toward Sudan.

Near Lake Tana, the Blue Nile also provides a beautiful spectacle—the Tisisat Falls, which cascade over cliffs like a smaller version of the famous Victoria Falls. In the northeast, multicolored salt pans decorate the Danakil, a desert that is below sea level and constitutes Africa’s lowest point.

South of the city of Axum is Lalibela – the 8th wonder of the world. Lalibella, also considered the second Jerusalem, is a place of 11 rock hewn churches carved out of a solid rock.

Harar, a walled city in the eastern part of the country, is also the fourth sacred place in the Muslim religion next to Meca, Medina and Jerusalem. The Harar enclosure (Harar Jugol) has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in recognition of its cultural heritage.

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