The country lies completely within the tropical latitudes and is relatively compact, with similar northsouth and eastwest dimensions. The ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf came to power after winning an impressive military victory over the army dictatorship of mengistus derg just a decade ago. The new chapter enhances the value of the book as the best historical introduction to modern. Neither a comprehensive and welldocumented history of the derg era nor a fullfledged autobiography, the book attempts to provide a brief account of the period from the perspective of a. Of particular interest, according to a book accompanying the exhibition, were. The zagwes were considered usurpers because they did not lay claim to king solomon and the queen of sheba. Yet ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Mar 03, 2017 book by the late tesafaye dinka, entitled ethiopia during the derg years, is published posthumously.
History from the ancient aksumite civilisations obelisks and the fascinating architectural wonders of medieval lalibela to the castles of gonder and the communist monuments of the derg, ethiopia wears its history on its sleeve. Jan 01, 1991 a history of modern ethiopia, 18551991 book. This is a great book and a must read for all with interest in ethiopian history. Paperback an unflinching account of the crucial period in modern ethiopian historyfrom the seizure of power and the execution of former officials, through the internal power struggles, insurgencies, foreign invasions and a devastating famine that ultimately led to the undoing of the derg regime. Overthrow of emperor haile selassie of ethiopia by the. For the updated edition, marcus has written a new preface, two new chapters, and an epilogue, detailing the development and implications of ethiopia as a federal state and the war with eritrea. It is wellwritten, with a solid bibliography that provides a useful startingpoint for further research. Henzes layers of time is a narrative history of ethiopia from earliest times through the first few years following the defeat of the derg regime. Feb 22, 2002 in this eminently readable, concise history of ethiopia, harold marcus surveys the evolution of the oldest african nation from prehistory to the present.
Ethiopia still haunted by memory of derg genocidal regime. Ethiopian revolution emperor haile selassie famine. It is described as blend of autobiography and history and a book that. The author wrote his version of story of dergs history from the day it was formed to the end. The overthrow of the final emperor haile selassie initiated a brutal communist era known as the derg. Ethiopia why ethiopians are nostalgic for a murderous. That being said, it is important to note that henze writes this history as a diplomat. It is difficult to regard this book as anything but a combination of. The capital is addis ababa new flower, located almost at the centre of the country. The trial of the derg in ethiopia a reporters story by john ryle 1996 einsteinforum, potsdam afterword 10,792 words. Mengistu haile mariam is an ethiopian soldier and politician who was the leader of ethiopia. Ethiopia is the largest and most populated country in the horn of africa. A history of modern ethiopia, 18551991 bahru zewde. Ethiopia the derg years find tsehai publishers book.
Ethiopia why ethiopians are nostalgic for a murderous marxist. Named prime minister of ethiopia as one of the last official acts of lt. Revolution and military government in early 1974, ethiopia entered a period of profound political, economic, and social change, frequently accompanied by violence. He fails to criticize the actions of either the late emperor haile selassie or the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front the current ruling party in ethiopia. The ethiopian revolution, the derg, civil war and famine. Fisshea destas reminiscence of the ethiopian revolution. Although located in the tropics its high altitudes give much of it a temperate climate. He was head of the relief and rehabilitation commission that the hailieselassie regime launched in 1983 and became a member of the derg until 1985, when he disassociated himself from the regime, moved to the united states and published a book entitled, red tears. Zewde, a history of modern ethiopia, 18551991 addis ababa, 2002. What are believed to be the oldest remains of a human ancestor ever found, which have been dated as being some five million years old, were discovered in the awash valley in ethiopia. Nov 23, 2011 list of 60 senior ethiopian government officials, civil servants, and military officers who were summarily executed by the derg firing squad on november 24, 1974.
Introduction with a population of over 70 million in 2005, ethiopia is the second most populous country in africa. Although the ancient, aboriginal population of what is now ethiopia were cushitic language speakers, the culture that came to be identified with ethiopia came from arabia, probably as early as. Ethiopia during the derg years new book by the late tesfaye. Higher education, with emphasis on traditional christian dogma, is still run by most major centres of worship, the most prominent being monasteries in. Tesafaye dinka served as foreign affairs minister and later as prime minister in the last years of the military government of colonel mengistu hailemariam. A handful of writers have come up with works, reminiscing of this momentous event which some of them witnessed, or actually participated. When yekuno amlak came to power, the solomonic dynasty was reinstated. History of northern ethiopia and the establishment of the italian colony or eritrea. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in africa and one of the oldest in the world.
The d erg was established in june 1974 as the coordinating committee of the armed forces, police and territorial army, by lowranking officers of. Mengistu hailemariam before he fled the country for exile, tesfaye dinka played an integral role in the postrevolutionary era. One of them, the ethiopian peoples revolutionary party eprp, believed so strongly in civilian rule that it undertook urban guerrilla war against the military rulers, and anarchy ensued in the following years. Wednesday, september 11th and thursday, september 12th 1974. Worku gebeyehu lakew empire and revolution in ethiopia, a new perspective. The derg officially the provisional military government of socialist ethiopia, was a. Neither a comprehensive and welldocumented history of the derg era nor a full fledged autobiography, the book attempts to provide a brief account of the period. Confrontation between traditional and modern forces erupted and changed the political, economic, and social nature of the ethiopian state. The defeat of the derg and the establishment of new. Ethiopia the derg years 9781599071503 book subjects. Popular ethiopian history books goodreads share book.
List of 60 senior ethiopian government officials, civil servants, and military officers who were summarily executed by the derg firing squad on november 24, 1974. Ethiopia why ethiopians are nostalgic for a murderous marxist regime violent and incompetent, the derg is nevertheless remembered fondly by some middle east and africa dec 7th 2017 edition. Few events in the modern history of ethiopia have had. The derg 19741991 immediatley after emperor haile selassie was overthrown. The derg borrowed its ideology from competing marxist parties, all of which arose from the student movement. The defeat of the derg and the establishment of new governments in ethiopia and eritrea. The traditional system is rooted in christianity and islam. Project muse the genesis and evolution of the ethiopian. Jul 27, 2015 any one of these five books would make an excellent book of the month. Bahru zewde has updated the first edition, adding a new chapter and taking the history through to 1991. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Almost a year after a revolution that saw the overthrow of the ethiopia s emperor haile selassie this weeks jonathan dimbleby.
Eventually the military was driven out in 1991 by antiderg fighters and with some help from the west the us, the ukthere is a map of ethiopia showing where the antiderg groups were located. Dergs positions and soviet actions toward ethiopiafar more skillful than anything. Estimates state that there were about a hundred thousand antiderg fighters, but these estimates are incredibly conservative. Why did reasonable demands of ethiopian masses for change lead not only to. The ethiopian civil war was a civil war in ethiopia and present day eritrea, fought between the ethiopian military junta communist governments and ethioeritrean antigovernment rebels from september 1974 to june 1991. Hi story of northern et hiopia and the establishment of the italian colony or eritrea. Led by an army lieutenant colonel mengistu haile mariam, the derg was a committee of nearly 120 military officers who came to power in ethiopia after ousting emperor haile selassie in 1974 and. Ethiopia during the derg years is published by tsehai publishers. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Its history as a political entity stretches back to antiquity, and almost uniquely within subsaharan africa, it has never been colonized. During the sixteenth century, the expeditions of ahmad gragn ravaged ethiopia.
The soviets hailed ethiopia for its supposed similar cultural and historical. The derg came to power under the slogan of ethiopia first and land to the tillers, and it was initially popular follo wing the overthrow of haile selassie. Ethiopia during the derg years new book by the late tesfaye dinka. The derg became deeply unpopular due to ill sought out policies and mass executions, which sent a shock wave across the country.
Jun 27, 2019 wednesday, september 11th and thursday, september 12th 1974. Ethiopia is a nation with a long, venerable and complex history. Mengistu purged rivals for power from the derg and made himself ethiopias dictator. What was life like under the derg regime of communist ethiopia. To accomplish its goals, the derg established an intermediary organ called the provisional office for mass organization affairs pomoa. Christian education at the primary level is often conducted by clergy in the vicinity of places of worship. First film has been received of the overthrow of emperor haile selassie. In the picture is a young mengistu haile mariam, the dictator whose marxist regime, the derg, oversaw the red terror of the 1970s and the.
A history of early twentieth century ethiopia, richard pankhurst, 1997. Situated in the horn of africa, ethiopia is bordered by eritrea to the north, sudan to the west, kenya to the south, somalia to the east and djibouti to the northeast. These tools with their gruesome history are some of the objects on display in the. Bounded by sudan to the west and north, kenya to the south, somalia to the southeast, and eritrea and djibouti to the northeast, ethiopia is a pivotal country in. A histor y of early twentieth centur y ethiop ia, richard pankhurst, 1997. Initially the derg was popular following the coup against haile selassie who came to power under the slogan of ethiopia first, land to the peasants and democracy and equality to all. In the 14th century, the conquests of amda seyon increased the size of ethiopia. In late 1994and again in 1995i travelled to addis ababa to report on the trial of the derg, the former rulers of ethiopia. The new chapter enhances the value of the book as the best historical introduction to modern ethiopia. Neither a comprehensive and welldocumented history of the derg era nor a fullfledged autobiography, the book attempts to provide a brief account of the period. Overthrow of emperor haile selassie of ethiopia by the derg. History of ethiopia lonely planet travel information. The derg was established in june 1974 as the coordinating committee of the armed forces, police and territorial army, by lowranking officers of.