Ethiopia - History of the Ethiopian Middle Ages, Colony, and Civil War #747309

Ethiopian civilization, one of Africa's most ancient, boasts a history spanning millennia. The Kingdom of Aksum, a dominant force from the early first century, played a pivotal role in shaping Ethiopian national identity through sociopolitical assimilation. Over the next 700 years, the Ethiopian Empire (Abyssinia) expanded, absorbing diverse Afro-Asian-speaking populations through migration and imperial expansion.

In the 10th century BC, the kingdom of D'mt, with its capital at Yeha, emerged as one of the early powers in the region. The Aksumite Kingdom, rising to prominence in the Tigray Region in the first century AD, expanded its influence along the Red Sea, subjugating Yemen and Meroe. Christianity was declared the state religion during the reign of Ezana in the early fourth century, marking a significant development. The Aksumites began identifying themselves as "Ethiopians," a term later acknowledged by foreign authors like Philostorgius. The rise of Islam in the Arabian peninsula led to the decline of the Aksumite empire, as trade shifted away, causing economic collapse. By the 13th century, the Zagwe dynasty succeeded the Aksumites, eventually giving way to the Solomonic dynasty, which ushered in a period of military advancements and imperial expansion.