ja_mageia

The roots of modern Ethiopia lie in the Axumite Empire. The origins of this empire and the age of the town of Axum remain obscure. However most written source confirm that the Axumite Empire became an important trading center and technologically advanced civilizations between the 1st and 7th Centuries AD. Axum is mentioned in the periplus of the Eritrean Sea, a Greek document, describes Axum”s imports and its trading relations with Egypt, Arabia, India and Ceylon. Axum during its heyday between the 3rd and the 7th centuries the empire stretched east across Red sea into Southern Arabia, West into Sudan Nile Valley. The Axumite society was rich well organized and technically and artistically advanced.

Following the dawn fall of Axum the seat of the imperial capital and power shifted once again to the southern part of the empire known as Roha (Lalibela) situated at about 2630m above sea level in rugged mountains in Wollo region. The founder of this dynasty is the Zagwe originated from Bugna region in Wollo and ruled between the 11th and 13th centuries. The Zagwe rulers are considered as usurpers and illegitimate by the Solomonic Dynasty. The strange isolated town of Lalibela is very well known for its Rock hewn churches. Its modern name Lalibela is derived from the most famous of the Zagwe rulers, the 12th king Lalibela.

After the decline of Lalibela in the second half of the 13th C and the consequent power transfer (Restoration) from the Zagwe rulers to the Solomonic line of rulers the capital city again shifted to southern part and then to Lake Tana region before Gondar was established by King Fasil as permanent capital in 1636. Fasiledes, who recognized the need to have a permanent capital, settled on the small village of Gondar, with its strategic hilltop location at an altitude of 2120m in the foothills of the Simien mountains. Surrounded on all sides by fertile lands and at the intersection of Caravan routes Gondar was a perfect choice for a capital.  Gondar became the country’s first permanent capital and center of culture and trade for the next 200 years.

Bahir Dar is a big town situated on the southern shore of Lake Tana. Its palm lined avenues and lake side location makes this city attractive town and also the base to explore the Blue Nile Fall and many Lake Tana monasteries. Bahir Dar has become one of Ethiopia’s most important industrial centers and the country’s fifth largest town with a population estimated to be 150,000. Although the town of Bahir Dar is modern the church of Bahir Dar Georgis situated down town was founded in the 17th C,