The History of Ethiopia

by Saheed A. Adejumobi, Frank W. Thackeray, John E. Findling

Overview

This engaging and informative historical narrative provides an excellent introduction to the history of Ethiopia from the classical era through the modern age. The acute historical analysis contained in this volume allows readers to critically interrogate shifting global power configurations from the late nineteenth century to the twentieth century, and the related implications in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa region. Adejumobi identifies a second wave of globalization, beginning in the nineteenth century, which laid the foundation for a highly textured Ethiopian Afromodern twentieth century. The book explores Ethiopia's efforts at charting an independent course in the face of imperialism, World War II, the Cold War and international economic reforms with a focus on the gap between the state's modernization reforms and the citizenry's aspirations of modernity. The book focuses on Ethiopians' efforts to balance challenges related to social, political and economic reforms with a renaissance in the arts, theater, Orthodox Coptic Christianity, Islam and ancient ethnic identities.

The History of Ethiopia paints a vivid picture of a dynamic and compelling country and region for students, scholars, and general readers seeking to grasp twenty-first century global relations. The work also provides a timeline of events in Ethiopian history, brief biographies of key figures, and a bibliographic essay.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313322730
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/30/2006
Series:	The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Saheed A. Adejumobi is Assistant Professor of History with the Global African Studies Program and Department of History at Seattle University. He has written widely on African and African Diaspora intellectual and cultural history and traditions.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword     ix
Preface and Acknowledgment     xi
Timeline of Ethiopian History     xv
Ethiopia: Intellectual and Cultural Background     1
Globalization and Modernization to Late Nineteenth Century     21
"Afromodern" Aspirations: Political Expansion and Social Reform in Local and Global Contexts, 1884-1935     37
World War II and Aftermath: Reconstruction and Other Contradictions, 1935-1960     67
Conservatives and Liberal Reforms, 1960-1974     97
"Afro-Marxism": Engaging Local and Global Orthodoxies and the Price of Revolution, 1974-1991     119
Globalization and Other Postmodern Configurations: Ethiopia at Home and Abroad Since 1991     131
Notable People in the History of Ethiopia     163
Selected Bibliography     191
Index     199

Editorial Reviews

Adejumobi describes the history of Ethiopia for students and lay readers, devoting a large section to contemporary issues. The book includes an introductory overview of the country's geography, political institutions, economic structure, and culture. It explores shifting global and local power configurations from the late nineteenth century to the twentieth and related implications in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa region, in addition to how the country sustained resources while involved with international, regional, and local politics. The country's independence, and social, political, and economic reforms are also discussed. Biographical sketches of important individuals are included.” —Reference & Research Book News

From the Publisher