Oromo
clans had moved into southern Ethiopia from about 1550. These
nomadic people had no central government but lived by raiding
the more settled states along the Nile. Both the Islamic states
in the Sudan and the Christian kingdom of Abyssinia were plagued
by these warlike people. By the reign of Emperor Iyasu II of
Gondar-Abyssinia (he ruled 1730-1755), many of the Oromo had
been recruited into the royal army. Thus, their warlike energies
were used by Iyasu to strengthen the imperial Gondar dynasty,
both against the traditional Abyssinian nobles as well as against
foreign enemies. Eventually, Oromo (related to Kushite) became
the common language at the royal court. Most Abyssinisans spoke
Amhara, a Semitic language related to Arabic.
The rule of the kings of Gondar is ended by 1769. In Ethiopian
history, the period of 1769 to 1855 is called the "Era
of the Princes". Ras Mikael Sehul, a noble (ras is a title
more or less meaning "marshal"--in Amhara it literally
means "head"), became effective ruler after the death
of Iyasu in 1755. While kings continued to rule as figureheads,
Mikael is the real power, removing kings as he wished. He even
had two kings killed at his order. But after Mikael's death,
the country fell apart as no single ras is strong enough to
take his place. Each province became a virtual kingdom of its
own, and constant warfare existed between the various provinces.
At one time, around 1800, there were six rival emperors, each
claiming rule over the whole of Abyssinia.
The Scotsman James Bruce lived and worked in Ethiopia between
1769 and 1772 while travelling along the Nile River to find
its source. His experiences were published in five volumes titled
"Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile".
After consolidating their base on the East African coast by
the mid-1500s, the Portuguese attempt to expand inland. The
Mwene Mutapa Empire is conquered, but the city of Great Zimbabwe,
capital of the breakaway Changmire Kingdom is not reached. Dombo
Urozwi, king of Changmire, successfully resists Portuguese expansion
and finally drives them out of Zimbabwe.
Arabs from the Sultanate of Oman also contest the Portuguese
expansion. The Arabs had old historic trade and cultural links
with the Swahili city states. In 1631 Mombasa revolts against
the Portuguese, but the revolt is defeated. In 1698, the Omanis
attack and defeat the Portuguese, driving them out of the Swahili
cities of
Mombasa, Zanzibar, Pemba and Kilwa. The Portuguese hold out
south of the Ruvuma River, what becomes their colony of Mozambique.
25
years ago / 50 years ago
/ 80 years ago / 125
years ago / 150 years ago
250 years ago
/ 400 years ago / 700
years ago / 1,200 years ago
1,500 years ago / 2,000
years ago / 3,000 years ago
/ 4,000 years ago / 5,000
years ago / 10,000 years
ago
