by Gemma Wiseman

Created on: August 23, 2007   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

In many ways, Ethiopia is the "voice" of African history, undisturbed by European colonial rule. Ethiopia has the oldest, continuous recorded history in Africa, spanning ancient, medieval and modern times. In ancient times, Ethiopia was the only African country to conquer a country outside Africa. And in the 19th century, Ethiopia was one of only 2 African countries (Liberia, in the west, was the other) who escaped the trauma of European colonization. But most importantly, many theorists claim "homo sapiens" (modern man) evolved in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia gives African history a place of "origins". Historians believe the beginnings of mankind are to be found in Ethiopia, making it possibly not only the oldest country in Africa, but the world. In northern Ethiopia, the fossils of "Lucy" were discovered by Donald Johanson in 1974. The fossils, representing the hominid "ape to man" connection could be 3.5million years old. They are now housed in the national museum in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. And also, remains of ancient "homo sapiens" have been found in Herto, on the arid Bouri Peninsula in Ethiopia. They are estimated to be 160,000 years old.

Ethiopia gives African history a place of religious significance, claiming direct connections with the legendary King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. For centuries, Ethiopia was ruled by emperors claiming descent from Menelik I, their son. This would mean the Ethiopian kingdom was founded in the 10th century B.C. Clearly by the 2nd century A.D. Axum, as the kingdom was known, controlled much of the Red Sea coast. Axum became a great power, conquering parts of Yemen and southern Arabia. This would begin Ethiopia's unique place in African history.

Another first in Ethiopia involved official conversion to Christianity. Christianity "arrived" in North Africa in the 1st to 2nd century A.D. Nubia, to the north of Ethiopia, absorbed Christianity, but, in the 4th century A.D., the Ethiopian King Ezana made Christianity the official religion of his country. Other African countries would not be Christianised until later waves of European colonization.

Ethiopia has an unusual collection of buildings not to be found anywhere else in Africa. Lalibela, a small town in the Ethiopian highlands, is lasting evidence of a strong Christian ethic in Ethiopia, particularly in the 10th to mid 13th centuries A.D. There are 13 rock-hewn churches here. Carvings of mystical symbols and saints are inside. Legend tells the whole project was meant to

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