Lauren Trahan
Mr. Jennings
World Geography (H) -2nd
8 December 2015
Ethiopia Dossier
Ethiopia’s Political History From AD 100, the city of Axum, north of Ethiopia, rose to power. The Aksumite kingdom became the most powerful in the region; their empire ran from the Nile River across the Red Sea. In the fourth century AD, a king named Ezana came to power and made Christianity the official religion. From AD 750, the rule of Aksum began to decrease as Arab traders spread across Africa, cutting off the city’s trading courses. In the 1500s, divisions between Christians and Muslims lead to several wars, such as the Muslim-Christian War (528-1560). Ethiopia had maintained complete control of their country until World War II, when it …show more content…
Over the last decade, the economy has grown over ten percent. However, Ethiopia is still among the 20 poorest countries in the world. As of 2014, the country’s external debt was $15.55 billion. The economy is struggling to keep pace with the escalating population. Nearly 40% of Ethiopians live below the international poverty line, surviving on less than a dollar each day. Ethiopia's economy relies heavily on agriculture, which account for nearly half the country's earnings, but this sector needs considerable investment. Despite Ethiopia’s many rivers and lakes, only 4 percent of Ethiopia’s land is irrigated, and their farming methods are undeveloped. The country also suffers from droughts that could affect the crops of farmers. Ethiopia produces agriculture such as oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables, cut flowers, etc. Coffee is still the main export, bringing in over 550 million dollars each year. When trading prices for coffee in Ethiopia dipped in 2006, many farmers took to growing plants called khat in order to earn extra wages. Ethiopia is one of the world’s top green coffee bean producers. The Ethiopian government has plans to open up large-scale commercial farming, invest in infrastructure, industrialize the country, and open small private …show more content…
Over 70 different languages are spoken in Ethiopia every day. Under the country’s constitution, all local languages have official state recognition in Ethiopia. The Semitic languages, such as Amharic, have their own unique script, and have over 200 characters that represent syllables rather than letters. Amharic is used as the language of communication and is also used by the government. English is taught in schools from secondary-school level and upwards. Christianity came to Ethiopia in the fourth century and plays a significant role in the country’s culture. Easter and Christmas are celebrated in Ethiopia. Islam was introduced in the seventeenth century; it is practiced by about one-third of Ethiopians, mostly in the eastern regions of the country. The Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Abha are Islamic festivals that are observed as holidays. Ethiopia’s traditional music is thought to be dated back to the seventh century. Modern-day music in Ethiopia is an assortment of different popular styles, but Ethiopia’s musicians and bands have a very unique sound, influenced by the part of the country where they come from. Traditional instruments, like a flute made of wood, called the washint, a drum, called the atomo, and a stringed lyre called the khrar, are used in many customary
Mr. Jennings
World Geography (H) -2nd
8 December 2015
Ethiopia Dossier
Ethiopia’s Political History From AD 100, the city of Axum, north of Ethiopia, rose to power. The Aksumite kingdom became the most powerful in the region; their empire ran from the Nile River across the Red Sea. In the fourth century AD, a king named Ezana came to power and made Christianity the official religion. From AD 750, the rule of Aksum began to decrease as Arab traders spread across Africa, cutting off the city’s trading courses. In the 1500s, divisions between Christians and Muslims lead to several wars, such as the Muslim-Christian War (528-1560). Ethiopia had maintained complete control of their country until World War II, when it …show more content…
Over the last decade, the economy has grown over ten percent. However, Ethiopia is still among the 20 poorest countries in the world. As of 2014, the country’s external debt was $15.55 billion. The economy is struggling to keep pace with the escalating population. Nearly 40% of Ethiopians live below the international poverty line, surviving on less than a dollar each day. Ethiopia's economy relies heavily on agriculture, which account for nearly half the country's earnings, but this sector needs considerable investment. Despite Ethiopia’s many rivers and lakes, only 4 percent of Ethiopia’s land is irrigated, and their farming methods are undeveloped. The country also suffers from droughts that could affect the crops of farmers. Ethiopia produces agriculture such as oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables, cut flowers, etc. Coffee is still the main export, bringing in over 550 million dollars each year. When trading prices for coffee in Ethiopia dipped in 2006, many farmers took to growing plants called khat in order to earn extra wages. Ethiopia is one of the world’s top green coffee bean producers. The Ethiopian government has plans to open up large-scale commercial farming, invest in infrastructure, industrialize the country, and open small private …show more content…
Over 70 different languages are spoken in Ethiopia every day. Under the country’s constitution, all local languages have official state recognition in Ethiopia. The Semitic languages, such as Amharic, have their own unique script, and have over 200 characters that represent syllables rather than letters. Amharic is used as the language of communication and is also used by the government. English is taught in schools from secondary-school level and upwards. Christianity came to Ethiopia in the fourth century and plays a significant role in the country’s culture. Easter and Christmas are celebrated in Ethiopia. Islam was introduced in the seventeenth century; it is practiced by about one-third of Ethiopians, mostly in the eastern regions of the country. The Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Abha are Islamic festivals that are observed as holidays. Ethiopia’s traditional music is thought to be dated back to the seventh century. Modern-day music in Ethiopia is an assortment of different popular styles, but Ethiopia’s musicians and bands have a very unique sound, influenced by the part of the country where they come from. Traditional instruments, like a flute made of wood, called the washint, a drum, called the atomo, and a stringed lyre called the khrar, are used in many customary