general information

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a state in the east of the African continent. Ethnographic diversity, rich history and - that's why the popularity is constantly growing. The Ethiopian government is investing enough in the development of tourism, and the industry is developing quite quickly.

general information

Understanding where Ethiopia is located on the world map is quite simple: it is located in the east of the mainland, next to the Somali peninsula. It borders countries such as:

• Djibouti;
• Somalia;
• Eritrea;
• Sudan;
• South Sudan;

The area of ​​Ethiopia is 1,104,300 sq. km, it ranks 10th among African countries, but in terms of the number of inhabitants it is 2nd, second only to Nigeria (the population of Ethiopia is more than 90 million people).

How to get to Ethiopia?

You will have to fly to Ethiopia with a transfer. This can be done by Turkish Airlines or Emirates (with a connection, respectively, in Istanbul or). A less convenient and more expensive option is to use the Lufthansa (docking is done in Frankfurt).

It is also possible to fly to Paris, London, Rome and from there go to the country with Ethiopian Airlines. This option is especially good for those who have chosen not Addis Ababa for their vacation: the national carrier operates flights to many cities in Ethiopia.

Located in Bol, a metropolitan suburb. It serves more than 3 million passengers a year and receives flights from Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.

For Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, it is needed. It can be obtained at the consular office or directly upon arrival, but only at Bole airport.

Abyssinia is a term that has been widely used for centuries since the 150s BC as a geographical expression for Aksumite culture. Initially, the name sounded like Habesha, but the linguistic features of foreign traders gradually Latinized the word, simplifying it for themselves.

Geography

Abyssinia is one of the borders of which is distinguished by the lack of direct access to the sea. In a small area, about the size of France, almost 100 million people live.

Some of the lowest life expectancy in the world is recorded here. According to reports, women can live for about 50 years, and men for about 48 years.

The location of the lowest point on Earth is 116 meters below sea level, in the Danakil depression. Dalol is one of the only lava lakes in the world and it is the hottest place on the planet.

Abyssinia is the birthplace of the Blue Nile, which, together with the White Nile, makes up the longest river in the world, the Nile.

Religion

The country of Abyssinia is one of the oldest civilizations of the Ancient World era. The power of the Orthodox state extended far beyond the city of Aksum. He formed the basis of the Christian culture of Northern Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Tewahedo, or the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, is one of the oldest forms of Christianity in the world, a religion that came from Egypt. About 330 AD. e. Frumentius, the Apostle of Ethiopia, turned to the Aksumite king Ezane, who made Christianity the official religion of the empire. Today, 35% of Ethiopians are Christians.

Ethiopia's main languages ​​also indicate the presence of Judaism in the country. The presence of a number of words associated with religion - devil, idol, Easter, cleansing, alms, is clearly not of Jewish origin. These words should have flowed directly from a Jewish ecclesiastical source. In general, there are more than 200 languages ​​in the country.

Around the 9th century, Christian Abyssinia began to decline and break up into separate principalities. The reason for this was the flourishing religion of Islam, penetrating the territory of the African Highlands. During the first pilgrimage of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, the king granted them land for settlement in the Aksumite kingdom. They were concentrated in the central part of modern Ethiopia. Abyssinia was the first country to adopt Islam as a religion in the past and harbored the Prophet Muhammad, his family and followers when they were persecuted and killed by pagan Arabs. Today, 45% of the population is Muslim.

Politics

Over the centuries, the policy of the country has undergone many changes. Abyssinia is now called Ethiopia. After the revolution, since 1987 it has been the People's Democratic Republic. This is the only country in Africa that has never been officially colonized, however, she had to defeat the Italians twice in order to remain independent.

Emperors ruled the country of Abyssinia until 1974, locals claim that they were descendants of King Solomon from the Bible and Makeda (Queen of Sheba). became the last Ethiopian emperor.

The first internationally recognized female head of state in Africa was Queen Zewditu of Ethiopia. The Empress ruled from 1916 to 1930.

Traditions

Abyssinia is the birthplace of a special "coffee ceremony". The beans are roasted on the spot, crushed and brewed. Served in several ceramic cups without handles, in which coffee is for one good sip, but according to tradition, they drink it slowly, enjoying intimate conversations. When the beans are roasted to smoke, they are passed around, the smoke from them becoming a blessing to the diners. They offer popcorn with coffee.

Coffee was first discovered by an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi in the Koffa region. Today, every third person drinks coffee at least once a day.

Injera is a pancake-like flatbread made from Teff grains, an integral part of traditional meat and vegetable dishes. Raw meat is considered a delicacy. A variety of spicy sauces saturate its taste, in addition, spices act as an excellent marinade.

Traditionally, Ethiopian parents and children do not have a common surname. Most children take their father's first name as their last name.

Architecture and agriculture

Rural houses are built primarily from stone and mud, the most readily available resources in the area. They are easily combined with the surrounding nature.

Architectural remains include carved stelae, vast palaces and ancient temples that are still used and preserved by the Ethiopians. In the temples built on the hills, even today they hold the main festive events, where people from the villages gather all around and sing, making a religious procession.

The earliest example of the use of tools by human ancestors has been traced back to Ethiopia.

The fertile soils of the northern part of the African continent and the temperate climate are suitable for growing crops such as: teff, wheat, corn and durro.

Agriculture is developed in Habesha, they plow the land in the old fashioned way, on oxen. The Ethiopians were the first to domesticate wild camels, donkeys and sheep. The Orthodox Church is an integral part of culture.

Some more facts

The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months and is 7 or 8 years behind the Western calendar. The 13th month has only five days, or six in a leap year.

Ethiopian distance runner Abebe Bikila was the first black African to win a gold medal in an Olympic marathon in 1960, and he ran the race barefoot. He won the race again in Tokyo four years later and became the first person to win the race twice, setting a world record.

An ancient skeleton named Lucy is the most important archaeological find. This human fossil, believed to have lived over 3 million years ago, was found in 1974 in the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia. She was named after The Beatles song Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds, which was playing on the radio at the time she was found. Even older remains were found in Hadar in 2001. Dating back over 5 million years, they are the earliest known ancestors of modern humans.

One local resident came up with a dangerous entertainment for tourists right in the backyard of his house. Almost every night he feeds raw meat to wild hyenas. Entertainment has become very popular and extreme. Right from the hands, everyone can treat a flock of predatory animals.

But also throughout the Middle East region. The modern name of the country comes from "Aityopia", which in Greek means "country burned by the sun." Full name of the state Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It is located in northeast Africa. From the north, Ethiopia's neighbor is a small Eritrea, formerly part of the state. To the west, the country is bordered by Sudan, in the east with Somalia and Djibouti, and the southern part of the state is adjacent to Kenya.

Ethiopia is the second largest country on the African continent after Nigeria. Representatives of more than 100 nationalities live here. Most of them are Oromo (almost 40%), 32% of the total population are representatives of the Amhara and Tigray tribes, about 9% are Sidamo and other nationalities. In the western part of the country, the Negroid race predominates, as well as Arabs, and in large cities you can meet Italians.

The official language is Amharic (the language of the Semitic tribes). More than 50% of the country's inhabitants are Christians who belong to the Eastern Ethiopian Church. By the way, Ethiopia is the only Christian country in Africa. Approximately 40% of the population identify themselves with the Islamic religion. The rest of the country adheres to traditional beliefs.

Ethiopia cannot boast of a developed industry. Despite the fact that gold, platinum, potash salt, manganese and other natural resources are mined in the country, this state is considered one of the least developed in the world. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. The main part of GDP is precisely the export of amazing Arabica coffee beans. Sesame, tobacco, fruits and sugar cane are also exported.

Today, Ethiopia is a great place for eco-tourism. Beautiful African savannahs and snow-capped highlands cause indescribable delight in every guest of the country.

Capital	Addis Ababa
Population	91,195,675 people (as of 2012)
	1,104,300 km²
Population density	77 people/km²
	Amharic
Religion	Eastern Christianity, Islam
Form of government	parliamentary republic
	Ethiopian birr
Timezone
International dialing code
Domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

Weather conditions in Ethiopia are subequatorial. In the north of the country, the climate is semi-desert and tropical desert. Interestingly, the climatic conditions of Ethiopia mainly depend on the altitude of the area. So, in the tropical zone, which is located below 1800 m above sea level, the air temperature exceeds +27 ° C all year round, and the amount of precipitation is 500 mm. In areas located at an altitude of 1800 m to 2450 m, the average daily air temperature is +22 °C all year round. The amount of precipitation here reaches 1500 mm. Above 2400 m above sea level, there is a temperate climate zone. This area is characterized by an average annual air temperature of more than +16 °C. It should be noted that night frosts are often observed in mountainous regions. Precipitation mainly occurs in the summer months (July-September), although in some parts of the country there is a "small wet season". A small amount of precipitation occurs in March and April. The dry season in Ethiopia lasts from September to early February.

The best time to visit this amazing country is from September to February, as well as late spring (April and May). At this time, the thermometer rarely rises to a very high mark, and the absence of heavy rainfall will allow you to enjoy all the beauties of Ethiopia.

Nature

The landscapes of Ethiopia are striking in their diversity. On the territory of the country you can meet the famous African savannas, and the unique beauty of snow-capped mountains, and stunning volcanic cones.

The central and western part of Ethiopia is occupied by low highlands with a height of no more than 1800 m above sea level. Cones of extinct volcanoes rise above the plateau. Very often in the craters of such formations you can see the most beautiful lakes, often surrounded by dense tropical greenery.

From the Red Sea to the very southern part of Ethiopia lies a fault zone. In the famous Afar depression there is a salt lake Assale, striking the imagination with its unique beauties.

The largest river in Ethiopia is Abbay, or blue nile, which, following from Lake Tana, forms the most beautiful waterfall in Africa - Tys-Isat.

More than a third of the territory of Ethiopia is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, characterized by poor flora and fauna. The east of the country is covered with grassy savannas, densely overgrown with umbrella-shaped acacias. In the river valleys, as a rule, tropical forests are common with sycamores, palms, milkweeds and wild coffee trees. The fauna of Ethiopia is quite diverse. Elephants, lions, antelopes, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, zebras, leopards and other animals are found in the savannas. In semi-deserts, ostriches are considered to be the true owner. Eagles, falcons, herons, vultures, partridges and other representatives of the avifauna also live in Ethiopia.

Attractions

The territory of modern Ethiopia is rich in historical, religious and cultural attractions. The most visited cities are Addis Ababa, Gondar and Lalibela.

In Gondar, the city walls and numerous palaces are perfectly preserved, which differ from the traditional buildings of African culture. Near the settlement is a stunning house of the founder of the city Phaseledes. There is a beautiful pond with unique vegetation and a huge pavilion of "cold baths". Deserves special attention Church of Debre-Birhan-Selassie, which is painted with amazing frescoes of the XIII century.

Public transport is represented by buses and taxis. It is worth noting that in Addis Ababa there are two types of taxis: yellow and blue. The first vehicles are aimed at foreign tourists, others are used to transport local residents. Yellow taxis tend to be somewhat more expensive. The average cost of a trip within the city center does not exceed $4. And for taxi trips out of town it is worth preparing about $ 60-80.

Railway communication in Ethiopia is very poorly developed. Here lies the only branch on which the passenger service Addis Ababa - Djibouti is organized. It should be noted that the railway rolling stock is significantly outdated and practically does not meet international standards. As a rule, traveling to Djibouti by rail is more popular than air travel due to their high cost. The price of train tickets depends on the class of the carriage and is approximately $10-40. Passenger trains in the direction of Djibouti are constantly overcrowded, so it is necessary to purchase tickets in advance before traveling.

Connection

Recently, communication and telecommunications systems have been rapidly developing in Ethiopia. Thus, a fixed telephone network was installed in all major cities of the country. On city streets there are special machines from which you can make a long-distance call. And for a conversation on international communications, you need to contact the post office. Also, devices that allow you to make an international call are installed in all major hotels and inns and at Bole Airport. The cost of a call within the country is about $0.25, and the price of a minute of international calls does not exceed $1.

Cellular communications of the GSM 900 standard in Ethiopia are provided by several operators at once. It should be noted that roamings of the world's leading mobile operators, including the Russian companies MTS and Beeline, are perfectly supported in Ethiopia.

The development of network technologies in the country is not particularly pleasing to foreign visitors to Ethiopia. In large cities, there are several dozen Internet cafes. True, they often look like small dark rooms with old computers. But for the local population, this is enough. The connection speed is incredibly slow, and the connection itself is interrupted quite often. The cost of using the Internet in Ethiopia is about $2 per hour.

Security

Ethiopia is considered a relatively safe country to travel. However, some regions are not controlled by the government of the country. Major crimes against foreign citizens are considered quite rare. But petty theft, robbery, fraud take place in crowded places, and especially in local markets.

Like most tropical countries in Africa, Ethiopia has a huge number of infectious and viral diseases. You should not come to this country without proper vaccinations against yellow fever, malaria, trachoma, schistosomiasis, etc. It is worth noting that HIV infection is widespread in Ethiopia, with more than one million people infected with this disease.

The sanitary situation in Ethiopia leaves much to be desired. During a drought, there is a certain risk of lack of water even in large cities. Do not drink raw water. Many experts recommend drinking only bottled water, although this is a rarity in extreme heat. To prevent infection with helminths, vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed, and fish and meat should generally be subjected to heat treatment.

Business climate

The main types of successful business in Ethiopia, according to experts, are the cultivation and production of coffee, as well as tourism. Moreover, the last branch has received intensive development quite recently. To attract foreign tourists, the country's authorities eased the visa regime and allowed access to previously closed areas. Noticing the increasing interest of tourists in the country's natural attractions every year, foreign investors make decisions to finance the tourism business in favor of Ethiopia.

The property

Many experts confirm that buying real estate in Ethiopia today is a profitable investment option. Most buyers prefer to purchase housing in large cities of the country for subsequent resale. Some buyers purchase large cottages for arranging cozy hotels in them. The cost of one square meter of housing in the city center is about $ 800, and in a residential area you can buy real estate at a price of $ 600 per square meter.

Often visitors to Ethiopia prefer to live in rented apartments. Interestingly, the cost of renting a one-room apartment in a residential area of ​​Addis Ababa will cost the tenant only $ 300 per month.

Although Ethiopia is considered a safe country, it will not be superfluous to follow the basic rules of behavior in Ethiopian society. It should be noted that for citizens of Russia, movement in Ethiopia is not limited. However, the country's authorities strongly recommend not to travel alone in areas neighboring Somalia.

All travelers should remember that the population of Ethiopia is extremely religious. Many public laws are based on the norms of religion. So, in the country it is not customary to show tender feelings towards their relatives. You should not speak openly about religion in public places. Such discussions cause the inhabitants of Ethiopia not very friendly emotions towards the tourist.

When purchasing any souvenirs for your relatives, you must remember that in Ethiopia it is forbidden to export gold and diamonds, ivory, as well as any products made from it. Rhino horns and skins of wild animals are also subject to seizure at customs. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to export coffee beans if you do not have special documents confirming the purchase.

Visa regime

To visit Ethiopia, you need a visa, which can be obtained both at the embassy of the country, and directly in Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. To apply for a visa at the consular section of the embassy, ​​you must present a copy of your internal passport and a foreign passport, which will expire no earlier than three months after entering the country. It is also necessary to fill out a visa application form in English or Russian, attach an invitation and one color photograph. The consular fee is $60.

Citizens of Russia can apply for an entry visa directly at Bole Airport in the capital of Ethiopia. To do this, you must submit two photographs and fill out a questionnaire. After that, a consular fee of $ 100 is paid. A visa is issued for 30 days.

For detailed advice, you can contact the Embassy of the Federative Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Moscow at: 120110, Moscow, per. Orlovo-Davydovsky, 6.

Basic moments

The territory of modern Ethiopia is included in the most ancient area of ​​the formation of human ancestors: the age of stone tools discovered here is estimated at about 3 million years. In almost all eras of antiquity, the country was relatively densely populated, mastered by the economy, from the first centuries of our era, powerful states existed on its territory. In the 4th-6th centuries, Ethiopia conducted a brisk trade with the Roman-Byzantine Empire, India, and the countries of the Middle East. At the same time, Christianity penetrated here. Only for short periods did Ethiopia find itself under the rule of one or another European state. (for example, at the end of the 19th century, Italy formed the colony of Eritrea, which lasted only a few years).

The western and central part of the country is occupied by the Ethiopian Highlands with an average height of 1800 m above sea level, although individual mountain ranges and peaks reach 3000 and even 4000 m. The highest peak in Ethiopia is Mount Ras Dashan (4623 m) in the Simon mountains. In general, the plateau is characterized by flat-topped mountains, similar to giant tables. The cones of volcanoes, mostly extinct, rise above the plateau. In their dilapidated craters, lakes often form, surrounded by a border of tropical greenery. A fault zone crosses Ethiopia from the Red Sea to the south (northern part of the African Great Rifts system). In the deep Afar basin, separated from the Red Sea by the low Danakil ridge, at around 116 m below sea level lies the salt lake Assale. Valley of the Awash River and a chain of rift lakes (the largest is Lake Abay), stretched to Lake Rudolf in neighboring Kenya, separate the Ethiopian highlands from the Ethiopian-Somali plateau, which occupies the southeast of the country, with prevailing heights up to 1500 m and individual peaks up to 4310 m (Mount Batu). Due to active faults, Ethiopia is characterized by increased seismicity: earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 5 points occur annually, and once every five years - even stronger ones. There are also many hot springs in the rift zone.

The largest river in the country - Abbay (Blue Nile). Flowing out of Lake Tana, Abbay forms a large and picturesque Tis-Ysat waterfall, and then flows for 500 km in a canyon with a depth of 1200–1500 m. Nile - Atbara.

The climate of Ethiopia is subequatorial hot, seasonally humid, in the northeast - tropical desert and semi-desert. The Afar Depression is one of the hottest places on Earth (average minimum temperature 25 °C, maximum 35 °C), but in most of the highlands, due to the height softening the heat, the average monthly temperatures are in the range from 15 to 26 ° C. Night frosts occur in the mountains. At the same time, on the coasts, the hottest month is May, the coldest is January, and in the mountains it is the opposite: the coolest month is July, the hottest are December and January. Rain falls mainly from July to September, although there is also a "little wet season" in March-April. The dry season lasts from September to February. Average annual rainfall - from 200–500 mm on the plains to 1000–1500 mm (even up to 2000 mm) in the mountains of the central and southwestern regions. The plains often suffer from severe droughts, when there is no rain almost all year round.

A third of the country's territory is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, the stony deserts of the Afar depression and the Danakil desert are especially lifeless. In the east of Ethiopia, grassy savannahs and forest savannahs with umbrella-shaped acacias spread, and in the southwestern part of the country, in the river valleys and in the mountains at altitudes of 1700–1800 m, tropical rainforests grow with palm trees, wild coffee trees, tree-like euphorbia, sycamores (giant ficuses). At altitudes above 3000 m, tropical analogues of alpine forests are developed. The animal world is still rich, despite the extermination of animals over the centuries: elephants, zebras, antelopes, lions, servals, leopards, hyenas are found in the savannas, ostriches are found in the Danakil semi-desert. The world of birds is especially diverse, and in the coastal waters of the Red Sea, the fauna of coral reefs is of great interest. To protect the fauna, reserves and national parks have been created: on the Awash River, Abiyata Lake, the Mannagesh Forest Park, etc.

Most of the Ethiopian population (total - about 103 million people) refers to the Ethiopian race - as if intermediate between Caucasoid and Negroid. Fine features, wavy hair, tall stature and chocolate-colored skin make most Ethiopians extraordinarily beautiful. The peoples of the country speak Semitic (these include the state - Amharic) and Cushitic languages. Part of the population belongs to the Negroid race. The Amhara and Oromo peoples make up 3/4 of the population. The two main religions are Islam and Christianity, but approximately 10% of the inhabitants adhere to local traditional beliefs. The main occupations are agriculture, cattle breeding, crafts. Most of the inhabitants build round huts with a cone-shaped straw roof. Traditional clothes are preserved - long dresses and capes, often decorated with ornaments, rich embroidery.

The capital of the country - Addis Ababa, located at an altitude of 2400 m, is called the "city of eternal spring" because of the temperate climate all year round. The city was founded in 1885, but now it is dominated by modern buildings. Addis Ababa is famous for its huge bazaar. The second largest city - Asmara - is located in the north of the country. It is also considered the most comfortable and beautiful city in Ethiopia. Gondar (north of Lake Tana) until the middle of the 19th century, it was the capital of the empire, as the castles of the 16th-18th centuries remind of, it houses a historical museum.

Ethiopian cities

All cities in Ethiopia

Ethiopia Attractions

All sights of Ethiopia

Story

The modern territory of Ethiopia belongs to the most ancient, East African, area of ​​the formation of man as a biological species. The age of archaeological finds of the remains of Australopithecus and Homo habilis in Ethiopia is estimated at 2.5-2.1 million years. During the formation of the first state formations in Egypt and Mesopotamia, the settlement of Ethiopia by representatives of the Semitic-Hamitic, Nilotic-Cushitic and other language groups began. The formation of the most ancient associations in the south of the Arabian Peninsula - the Hadhramaut, Kataban and Sabaean kingdoms - ca. 1000 BC e. accelerated the process of resettlement of part of the population from South Arabia (modern Yemen) to present-day Eritrea and Northeast Ethiopia. As a result, by the 7th century BC. e. these territories were included in the Kingdom of Savva. It was this circumstance that allowed early medieval Ethiopian propaganda to proclaim the Ethiopian royal family of the Solomonids the descendants of the Israeli-Jewish king Solomon and the biblical queen of Sheba, known in the Ethiopian tradition as Makeda or Bilqis.

The ancient Greeks called Ethiopians all the blacks of Africa, primarily the Nubians, but now this name is assigned to the territory, also known as Abyssinia. It was here that at the beginning of our era, as a result of the unification of a number of small tribal formations, known from the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. a large Aksumite kingdom was formed, which reached its greatest prosperity in the III-VI centuries. n. e. Aksum was actively trading with Egypt, Arabia, Syria, Parthia (later - Persia), India, exporting ivory, incense and gold in large quantities. During its political dominance in the region, Aksum extended its influence to Nubia, South Arabia, the Ethiopian highlands and northern Somalia. Since the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (4th century) the intensified penetration of Christianity from Egypt, Rome and Asia Minor into Aksum begins, associated with the preaching of the teachings of Christ by Edessius and the first bishop of Abyssinia, Frumentius. 329 is considered the founding date of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of the Monophysite persuasion, which remained dependent on the Egyptian Coptic Church until 1948. By the 6th century, Christianity was established as the dominant religion in Ethiopia, which became the first Christian country in Tropical Africa. In 451, during the schism of the Christian Church, at the Council of Chalcedon, the Copts spoke out in support of the Monophysite trend, and representatives of the Ethiopian Church took the same position.

At the beginning of the 6th century, in order to avenge the oppression of the local Christian population by their rulers, the army of King Kaleb of Aksum invaded southern Arabia. Around the same time, Judaism began to penetrate into Ethiopia, which had a noticeable influence on the rites of the Ethiopian church; in addition, part of the Aksumites became followers of Judaism. (The descendants of these northern Falasha converts have now emigrated almost entirely to Israel. Their emigration began in the mid-1980s and ended in 1991.) Although the Aksumite ruler Arma gave refuge to the first followers of the Prophet Muhammad during their persecution in Arabia in the 7th century, the spread of Islam led to the isolation of the Aksumite kingdom. The Ethiopians disappeared behind their rugged mountains and, as Gibbon wrote, "slept for almost a thousand years, forgetting about the world around them, which also forgot about them." However, many of the country's rulers tried to maintain ties with Western European Christian countries.

According to Ethiopian tradition, the genealogy of the imperial family goes back to the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. It is believed that the hereditary right to the imperial throne of the Solomonic dynasty was interrupted for about two centuries by representatives of the Zagüe dynasty. At the end of the 13th century the ruler of Shoa ascended the throne, proving his belonging to the Solomonids. This was followed by a period of religious and cultural revival, when royal chronicles and numerous works of a spiritual nature were created, the most significant of which was Cabre Nagest. (Glory to the kings), containing the story of the journey of the Queen of Sheba to Jerusalem.

At the end of the 15th century a small group of Portuguese and other Europeans, who went in search of the kingdom of the high priest John, covered with legends in medieval Europe, arrived in Ethiopia. The Portuguese hoped to make this Christian country an ally in the fight against the Muslims and the growing strength of the Ottoman Empire. After, after 1531, Ethiopia began to suffer one defeat after another from the army of Imam Adal Ahmed ibn Ibrahim, known as the Edge (Lefty), and lost most of its territory, the emperor turned to Portugal for help. In 1541, a detachment of 400 Portuguese landed in Massawa, led by Christopher da Gama, the son of the famous navigator Vasco da Gama. Most of the detachment, including its leader, died in battle with the Muslims. With the assistance of the surviving Portuguese, a new Ethiopian army was created, armed with muskets. (before that time, only the warriors of the Edge had firearms). In 1543, this army defeated the enemy, and Ahmed Gran himself died in the battle.

Attempts by the Portuguese, and later by the Jesuits, to impose Catholicism on the population of the country led to numerous conflicts. In the end, in 1633 the Jesuits were expelled from Ethiopia. For the next 150 years, the country was almost completely isolated from Europe. The founding of the capital in Gondar, where several stone castles were built, dates back to this period. In the middle of the 18th century the power of the emperor fell into decay, and the country was engulfed in feudal civil strife. In 1769, the English traveler James Bruce visited Ethiopia, trying to find the source of the Nile. In 1805, the British mission acquired a trading port on the Red Sea coast. At the beginning of the 19th century other Europeans also visited the country. In 1855, Tewodros, one of the most able military leaders of the time, seized the imperial throne, restored the power and authority of the supreme power, and tried to unite and reform the country.

After two years of Queen Victoria's failure to respond to a letter sent to her by Tewodros, several officials of Great Britain were thrown into prison at Makdal by order of the Emperor. All attempts to secure their release through diplomatic means have come to nothing. In 1867, a military expeditionary force was sent to Ethiopia to free the prisoners under the command of General Robert Napier. Having landed from the ships on January 7, 1868 in the town of Mulkutto on the shores of Zula Bay, the Napier detachment, numbering more than 10 thousand people, moved through the difficult mountainous terrain on a 650-kilometer path to Mekdela. The British received help and food from local residents who were dissatisfied with the emperor Tewodros, primarily the Tigrians. On the other hand, Tewodros was also advancing towards Mekdela, whose power had shaken by this time, and the ranks of the imperial army had thinned out. April 13, 1868 this mountain fortress fell under the onslaught of the British troops. During the assault, not wanting to fall into the hands of enemies, Tewodros shot himself. Soon the British troops left Ethiopia.

After the death of Tewodros, Johannes IV, the ruler of Tigray, an ally of the British in their war with Tewodros, became emperor. His twenty-year reign, full of turbulent events, began with the suppression of attempts by other pretenders to seize the throne. Subsequently, Yohannis had many battles with external enemies: Italians, Mahdists and Egyptians. The Italians, who in 1869 acquired the port of Assab, in 1885, with the consent of the British, captured Massawa, which had previously belonged to Egypt. In 1884, Great Britain and Egypt promised the emperor that Ethiopia would receive the right to use Massawa, but the Italians soon closed access there and began to systematically move deep into Ethiopia. In January 1887, the emperor's soldiers inflicted a defeat on the Italians at the town of Dogali and forced them to retreat. Then Yohannis entered into hostilities with the Mahdists, who now and then invaded Ethiopia from the territory of the Sudan. In March 1889 he was mortally wounded in one of the battles. Negus Shoa Menelik became the emperor of Ethiopia, who for several years enjoyed the support of Italy. Shoa Menelik made successful military campaigns against the rebellious provinces and achieved a significant consolidation of the Ethiopian state. During his reign, reforms began to modernize the country.

On May 2, 1889, shortly before the official coronation act, Menelik concluded the Uchchal Treaty with Italy, according to which the Italians received the right to occupy Asmara. Outwardly, very friendly relations were established between the two countries. However, this treaty has become a source of many problems. The Amharic copy of the treaty provided that Ethiopia, if it deemed it necessary, could resort to the "good offices" of Italy in relations with other powers. In the Italian text of the treaty, it was stated that Ethiopia was only obliged to do so. In practice, this meant complete Italian control over Ethiopian foreign policy. Using its text of the treaty, Italy declared that, based on the provisions of the General Act of the Berlin Conference of 1885, it has the right to establish its own protectorate over Ethiopia. The persistence of Italian diplomacy in upholding an interpretation of the Uchchal treaty that was beneficial to it led to its denunciation by the Ethiopian side on May 11, 1893.

In 1895-1896, Italian expansion in the region continued with an attempt to increase the colonial possessions at the expense of Ethiopia, but the military campaign of the Italian expeditionary force, supported by the Eritrean auxiliary forces, ended in a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Adua. The Negus of Ethiopia was in a position where he could have tried to reconquer part of Eritrea as well, but preferred a peace deal.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a dynastic conflict took place in the country, which resulted in the installation of Emperor Haile Selassie on the throne, who carried out limited reforms in the country aimed at modernizing Ethiopian society.

In 1935-1936, fascist Italy again invaded Ethiopia. The invaders had complete military advantage, but still used chemical weapons on several occasions. The League of Nations condemned the aggression sluggishly and was inconsistent in imposing sanctions, in which Soviet historiography saw an important stage in the dismantling of the collective security system in Europe. The Italian occupation of the country continued until 1941, when the British army, supported by auxiliary forces recruited from the African colonies, retook Ethiopia and Eritrea.

After the war, Selassie continued to rule as an absolute monarch. By the beginning of the 70s, his position was criticized from all sides of the political space, and a large-scale famine of the early 70s, which led to great loss of life, made a great contribution to further events.

In 1974, measures to improve the economy resulted in a sharp increase in prices and led to mass demonstrations of protest; the situation was exploited by a group of military men with Marxist political views, which organizationally took shape in the summer of that year into a committee called the Derg. He led the process of dismantling the monarchy, also known as the "creeping coup." By mid-autumn, the Derg had almost completely subjugated all administrative structures and proclaimed a course towards building a socialist society. From 1975 to 1991, the USSR and the countries of Eastern Europe provided comprehensive assistance to Ethiopia.

On August 25, 1975, the deposed Emperor Haile Selassie I died under suspicious circumstances. In 1976-1977, the Derg strengthened its positions by reprisals against opponents, both royalists and separatists, and the "leftists"; this campaign is also known as the "Red Terror". The leader of the Derg at this stage was Mengistu Haile Mariam.

Taking advantage of the country's difficult situation during this period, the Somali army intensively supported the separatist movement of ethnic Somalis in the southeastern region of the country, the Ogaden, and in 1977-1978 tried to annex the Ogaden by force. These events are known as the War for the Ogaden. Cuba, the USSR and South Yemen provided great assistance in the fight against the enemy of Ethiopia.

The task set to bring Ethiopia from a feudal society to a communist regime could not be fulfilled. Attempts to collectivize agriculture only led to its further degradation. In 1984, a famine broke out in the country, far exceeding in scope and number of victims the pandemic of the early 70s. The Mengistu government also failed to resolve the Eritrean issue; despite large-scale military operations against the separatists, a decisive victory was never achieved.

In the late 80s, in the context of the growing crisis in the USSR, the Mengistu government found itself in a critical situation, and as a result, in May 1991, it was overthrown as a result of the activities of an alliance of rebel movements, in which the main role was played by Eritrean groups.

A group of rebel leaders came to power in the country, according to Marxists of the extreme left, who started as supporters of Enver Hoxha, then changed their ideological orientation to a more liberal one. Since then, the country has been permanently headed by the representative of this group, Meles Zenawi, first as president, then, after the introduction of a parliamentary republic, as prime minister.

In the field of foreign policy, the Zenawi government allowed Eritrea to secede in 1993, but then there was a period of cooling with the former allies who came to power in the new state. Nadir in relations between neighbors was reached in 1998-2000, when the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict broke out in the border zone, ending with a slight advantage of Ethiopia. The question of the border between the countries still remains unresolved. In 1997, 2000 and 2006, Ethiopia also took an active part in the fate of Somalia. In the latter case, the Ethiopian army defeated the formations of local Islamists and installed in Mogadishu a transitional government loyal to Ethiopia, headed by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.

culture

Ethiopia is the only traditionally Christian African country. One of its main religions is Eastern Christianity. (Ethiopian Church), the positions of Islam are also strong in all peripheral regions. The Ethiopian Church adheres to Monophysitism.

According to the 1994 census: Christians - 60.8% (Orthodox - 50.6%, Protestants - 10.2%), Muslims - 32.8%, African cults - 4.6%, others - 1.8%.

For a long time, literature was created mainly in the gyyz language and had mainly religious content. True, already at the end of the 13th century. the first royal chronicles appeared on parchment. In the 19th century the first works in the Amharic language were created, and shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, the first printing press appeared in the country. Not least in order to support the development of modern literature in the Amharic language, during his regency, Emperor Haile Selassie I founded the publishing house "Byrhan enna Selyam" ("Light and Peace"). Most of the literary works were characterized by a moralizing orientation. Many dramatic works were created after the liberation of the country from the Italian occupation, and they were staged either on the stage of the National Theater or by university students. In the early 1990s, Addis Ababa published three daily newspapers in Amharic and one in English.

In the traditional visual arts of Ethiopia, the predominantly Byzantine style dominated. After 1930, commercial art focused on the needs of tourists developed significantly. In works of this kind, there was often a plot of the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, and they were a series of popular prints, each of which complemented the other. Around the same time, artists began to paint the walls of taverns and bars with images of national heroes and saints.

The cuisine of Ethiopia is in many ways similar to the cuisine of its neighboring countries - Somalia and Eritrea. The main feature of Ethiopian cuisine is the absence of cutlery and plates: they are replaced by figs - the traditional teff flatbread. Another striking feature is the presence of a large number of spices.

Coffee is the pride of Ethiopia. Entire rituals have been developed here, like Chinese tea ceremonies, from roasting coffee beans to drinking coffee.

There are many vegetarian dishes in Ethiopian cuisine - there are many Muslims and Orthodox Christians who observe strict religious fasts. In general, Ethiopian cuisine is distinguished by a wide variety of flavors and aromas, created through a unique combination of spices and vegetables.

Economy

The basis of the Ethiopian economy is low-profit consumer agriculture. In the 1970s, economic growth was no more than 5%. And revolutionary changes led to an even greater decline in GDP growth. The economic situation was complicated by the loss of Ethiopian ports on the Red Sea. Severe droughts and crop failures led to a humanitarian catastrophe at the end of the 20th century. By the end of the 20th century, the economic situation of Ethiopia began to improve. GDP growth was about 8% per year. Thanks to the easing of customs regimes, the level of investment in the country's economy has increased. The main investors are China, India and Saudi Arabia. The basis of economic development in recent years are foreign loans and humanitarian aid.

Agriculture is the main branch of the Ethiopian economy, providing 85% of jobs. It provides about 45% of GDP and 62% of the country's exports. Coffee accounted for 39.4% of exports in 2001-2002. Coffee is Ethiopia's gift to the world. This country is the main producer of Arabica coffee in Africa. Tea is another important crop. Endowed with vast agro-climatic zones and diverse resources, Ethiopia processes all types of cereals, fibers, peanuts, coffee, tea, flowers, as well as fruits and vegetables. More than 140 types of varieties are currently processed in Ethiopia. Potentially non-irrigated lands are estimated at 10 million hectares. Animal husbandry in Ethiopia is one of the most developed and numerous in Africa. Fishing and forestry are also significant industries. There is great potential for investment in these sectors.

Ethiopia's varied agro-climatic conditions favor the cultivation of a wide range of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Vegetable growing and flowers are the most dynamically developing sectors of the economy. In 2002, more than 29,000 tons of fruit products and 10 tons of flowers were exported. Without exaggeration, we can say that the floriculture sector is the most attractive for investment in the entire Ethiopian economy.

Ethiopia is the largest country in Africa in terms of livestock and is also among the ten largest in the world in this indicator. Ethiopia has 35 million cattle, 16 million sheep and 10 million goats.

Ethiopia has 3.3 million hives and is the main producer and exporter of honey and beeswax in Africa. This industry provides excellent investment prospects.

Industry accounts for about 15% of GDP. The food, textile, leather, woodworking, chemical and metallurgical industries are mainly developed. During the first quarter of 2001, Ethiopia exported food products worth approximately 54.8 million birr.

The financial sector is very underdeveloped, which slows down the development of the country. There is no stock exchange in Ethiopia. Banking is underdeveloped.

Politics

Ethiopia is a federal parliamentary republic with a prime minister as head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is concentrated in the hands of the two houses of parliament. The head of state is the president.

According to article 78 of the Constitution of Ethiopia, the judiciary is completely independent of the executive and legislative branches. However, according to foreign research reports, Ethiopia ranks 106 out of 167 countries in the ranking of democratic government. She is ahead of Cambodia, which is located in 105th place; Ethiopia is followed by Burundi - 107th place.

In June 1994, elections were held for the constituent assembly, whose members were 547 deputies. In December of the same year, the modern Constitution of Ethiopia was adopted by the assembly. In May and June 1995, Ethiopia held its first popular elections for a national parliament and elections for regional governments. However, most of the opposition parties decided to boycott these elections. As a result, the Ethiopian People's Democratic Revolutionary Front won. International and non-governmental observers concluded that the elections were held without violations, and opposition parties had the opportunity to participate in the elections if they so wished.

The Abyssinian cat is one of the most ancient breeds, and even the ancient Egyptian tombs adorned its image. This short-haired member of the cat family is known to many as the "rabbit cat", due to the unusual appearance of the coat. Abyssinians have recently become popular in our country, and the demand for this breed often exceeds supply, which in a certain way affects the cost of such a pet.

Origin story

To date, there are several versions explaining the origin of the Abyssinian cat breed, and all of them are not without a certain basis. Most often, the breed is considered as descended from the Zula cat, imported from Ethiopia or Abyssinia. The cat was brought by Captain Barret-Lenard over a century ago.

However, the origin of the Abyssinian from wild cats is considered more plausible.. The external data of the North African, steppe or Libyan wild cat is very reminiscent of the modern Abyssinian breed. The area of ​​distribution of the steppe cat is Africa and the Middle East, where this animal was domesticated many centuries ago. On the territory of North Africa, there are other wild species that are very similar to the Abyssinian breed. Such wild felines include reed cat or swamp lynx.

Also, scientists expressed hypotheses, according to which the ancestor of the breed was an animal exported from southeast Asia or Afghanistan. This version is supported by the fact that in the years 1834-1836 in the Leiden Zoological Museum in Holland a stuffed cat with wild coloring, similar to the modern Abyssinian, was exhibited.

More than a hundred years ago, a couple of the first cats of this breed were taken to America. In our country, the Abyssinian appeared in breeders less than twenty years ago. The first representative of the breed was the cat Abyriginal's Sunny with a fawn color. Approximately fifteen years ago, such well-known Russian catteries of Abyssinian cats as Lakshmina, Night Hunter, Charming Angel, Artefakt, Orange Marmelad, Bluecourage and Solaris began their work.

Description, appearance of the Abyssinian cat

Ideally, the Abyssinian is a bright, well-ticked, medium-sized cat with a regal appearance.

Representatives of a rare breed for participation in exhibitions and breeding must have the following external data:

• the head is modified, has the form of a slightly rounded wedge with a soft outline of the cheeks, eyebrows and profile lines;
• the rise in the area from the bridge of the nose to the forehead is smooth, and the frontal part is slightly convex and wide, forming a smooth line with the top of the head and not sharply turning into a slightly curved neck;
• ears of large size, moderately pointed at the tips and widened at the base, cupped;
• almond-shaped shiny eyes of large size, very expressive, with a thin contour outline of a dark color;
• the body is flexible and graceful, of medium length, with very well developed, but not completely coarse muscles, with ideal proportions;
• the limbs are slender and graceful, the paws are oval and compact. There are five toes on the front paws, and four toes on the hind paws;
• the tail is quite long, with a pronounced narrowing towards the tip and a noticeable thickening at the base.

Important! The coat is soft and silky, dense and resilient, with a fine structure and a bright sheen.

Color standards

The Abyssinian should have a warm and glowing coat color, with distinct and as even ticking as possible:

• wild color or "Ruddy". Characteristic is the presence of a uniform double or triple ticking without any specific pattern;
• color Sorrel or "Sorrel". Coloration can vary from tan to copper red;
• blue color or "Blue". The coat has an attractive coloring in characteristic gray-blue tones;
• fawn color or "Fawn". The coloring is cocoa or delicate coffee with milk, and the undercoat has a light cream or delicate sandy tint.

In conditions of full ticking, the spinal zone may be darkened.. The greatest preference is given to representatives of the breed, with no markings on the lower chest and on the paws.

The nature of the breed

The habits of Abyssinians are very reminiscent of dogs. This very energetic, agile and playful animal lends itself perfectly to training.. The breed is calm and delicate, possessing an outstanding intellect. An interesting feature of the Abyssinian is the absence of hydrophobia and curiosity, so the periodic does not cause difficulties.

High mobility is often accompanied by damage to interior items, including curtains and carpeting. A pet of this breed from an early age does not have a sense of fear and self-preservation, therefore, from the first days of life, the Abyssinian needs to be surrounded by care and attention. A cat of this breed does not tolerate loneliness very well, and can become severely depressed.

The Abyssinian cat is very simple and undemanding in care.

Important! The main condition for the proper maintenance of the breed is to provide the animal with a balanced diet, systematic water procedures, as well as strict adherence to the vaccination calendar and periodic deworming.

The smooth and short coat of the Abyssinian requires minimal grooming. You need to comb your pet with a special metal brush about once a week. The Abyssinian cat is very quickly and easily accustomed to using a cat litter filled with natural fillers. The breed is quite clean, and the use of sawdust or pellets is considered very convenient and economical.

Periodically, you need to trim the animal's claws, as well as check the condition of the ears and eyes. Accumulating secretions should be carefully removed with cotton swabs or cotton swabs. The breed's tendency to inflammatory gum disease requires increased attention and preventive dental cleaning. A small woolen cover involves maintaining a comfortable temperature in the room. Vaccinations against major diseases are mandatory, including panleukopenia, herpesvirus infection, calicivirus and rabies.

Abyssinian cat nutrition

You can feed the Abyssinian both ready-made industrial dry or canned food, and natural products.

Dry food

Feeding very young kittens is best done with special feeds:

• Arden Grange;
• "Guabi Natural";
• "Natural kitten food";
• "Royal Canin";
• Farmina.

A pet over the age of ten months may be gradually transitioned to an adult diet. High-quality ones have a completely balanced composition, including vitamins and minerals, as well as amino acids. New food should be introduced into the diet gradually. When using dry food, it is necessary to ensure the constant availability of clean drinking water.

Natural products

Feeding pets with natural products is very popular in our country, and with the right diet, the animal receives good nutrition:

• beef - three to four times a week;
• boiled chicken without bones - daily or every other day;
• boiled or freshly frozen offal in the form of liver, heart, kidneys and ventricles of beef or chicken - weekly;
• boiled sea fish - a couple of times a month;
• milk or 10% cream for kittens up to three months - daily;
• fermented milk products for adult cats - weekly;
• raw or boiled egg yolk - a couple of times a week;
• rice, semolina and oatmeal liquid milk porridge for kittens up to three months - daily or every other day;
• low-fat fresh and non-acidic cottage cheese mixed with raw egg yolk or low-fat sour cream - a couple of times a week;
• cereal crops - weekly;
• chopped raw or boiled vegetables in the form of green asparagus beans, carrots and cauliflower - a couple of times a week.

Every day you need to supplement the nutrition of the Abyssinian cat with complete mineral and vitamin supplements. It is also required to enrich the diet with dry brewer's yeast and vegetable oil. Useful grass for the animal in the form of germinated oats and wheat can be purchased at a pet store or grown independently.

Features of feeding

Both adult pets and kittens are categorically contraindicated in the following products:

• raw duck and goose meat;
• fatty lamb and pork in any form;
• chicken and fish bones;
• any spices, seasonings and salt;
• smoked sausages;
• fried and pickled dishes;
• potatoes, soybeans, peas, beans and beans.

Important! When using such products, the immune system weakens, the coat loses its luster, various metabolic problems arise, as well as stomach and intestinal disorders.