Grade 12: 19th Century Ethiopian Trade and Politics

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Questions and Answers

What was the likely impact of the regional feudal wars on trade in the Gibe region at the beginning of the 19th century?

It led to the establishment of new trade routes

It had no impact on trade in the region

It led to a significant improvement in trade

It hindered trade, making it unstable and unsafe (correct)

What was the consequence of the Egyptian conquest of South Arabia at the beginning of the 19th century?

It had no impact on trade along the Red Sea coast

It led to a decline in the importance of the Red Sea as a trade channel

It strengthened peace and order, increasing the importance of the Red Sea as a trade channel (correct)

It weakened peace and order along the Red Sea coast

Where did one of the main caravan trade routes start from in the Gibe region?

Ankober in Shewa

Basso in Gojjam

Derita in Begemder

Assendabo in Guduru (Eastern Wollega) (correct)

What was the significance of the Assendabo market?

It was a point of contact for people between the Abay and the Gibe River valleys Signup and view all the answers

Where did merchants from Shewa proceed to after Basso?

Ankober Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Basso marketplace?

It was a meeting place for merchants from Tigray, Gondar, Wollo, and Shewa Signup and view all the answers

From Gondar, one of the routes led to:

Massawa via Adwa Signup and view all the answers

Where did the Wollo merchants proceed to after Basso?

Aussa and then to the ports of Tajura and Obock Signup and view all the answers

What was the direction of the caravan route that originated from the Gibe region?

North-eastern Signup and view all the answers

What was the major Ethiopian export item since ancient times?

Slaves Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the well-known slave auction market in Gojjam?

Yejjube Signup and view all the answers

What made it possible to transport coffee in relatively large quantities in the twentieth century?

Rail transport Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the region that was the origin of the caravan route that linked the Shewan Plateau with Harar?

Gibe Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the principal long-distance caravan routes in Ethiopia?

Bonga-Jimma-Saka-Assendabo-Basso-Gondar Signup and view all the answers

What was the major commodity for export in Ethiopia by the last quarter of the nineteenth century?

Coffee Signup and view all the answers

What was the direction of the trade route from Harar?

North-eastern Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Regional Feudal Wars

In the 19th century, regional feudal wars occurred in Ethiopia, posing obstacles to trade.
Despite the unstable period, trade improved over time due to improved political conditions along the Red Sea coast after the Egyptian conquest of South Arabia.

Trade Routes and Market Centers

A major caravan trade route started from the Gibe region and led to Assendabo in Guduru (Eastern Wollega).
The Assendabo market was an important point of contact for people between the Abay and Gibe River valleys.
From Assendabo, products from southwestern Ethiopia were transported to Basso in Gojjam.
The Basso market was a significant meeting place for merchants from different parts of Ethiopia.

Major Caravan Routes

The major caravan routes were:
- Bonga (Kafa) –Jimma-Saka-Assendabo-Basso-Gondar
  - Gondar-Metemma-Sudan
  - Gondar-Adwa-Massawa
- Bonga-Jimma-Saka-Assendabo-Aussa-Tajura/Obock
- Bonga-Jimma-Soddo-Ankober-Harar-Zeila/ Berbera

Trade Items and Slave Trade

Major trading items included:
- Ivory
- Civet
- Gold
- Wax
- Animal skins
- Slaves
Coffee became an important commodity for export by the late 19th century.
Ethiopian goods were primarily natural products obtained from southwestern Ethiopia.

Slave Trade

Slaves became a major Ethiopian export item since ancient times.
Slaves were exported to the Sudan and Arabia.
Notorious slave auction markets included Yejjube in Gojjam and Abdul Rasul, near Aleyu Amba.

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Description

This quiz covers the 19th century trade and politics in Ethiopia, focusing on the Gibe region and the impact of regional feudal wars and Egyptian conquest on commerce.