12 Questions
Which region served as the capital of the Kafa Kingdom, connecting the southwestern part of Ethiopia to the northern region?
Jimma
In which direction did one line from Gondar pass to reach Matamma-Qallabat (Gallabat) where commodities were sold to Sudanese merchants?
Westward
Which territories did the second major trade route pass through after leaving Bonga in southwestern Ethiopia?
Ancharro and Dawwe in Wollo
Where did the line from Gondar bifurcate to move towards Matamma-Qallabat (Gallabat) for trade purposes?
Chilga
Which market center was situated in Jimma along the trade route linking southwestern Ethiopia to the northern part of the country?
Saqa
After passing through Rogge near Yerer, which location did the trade route from Bonga proceed towards in northern Shewa?
Aliyu Amba
Which products were mainly exported from Ethiopia to the Middle East in the 19th century?
Gold, ivory, rhinoceros horn, skins, civet, musk
What was the major medium of exchange in internal trade within Ethiopia?
Salt bars (amole)
Which town prospered by cutting and distributing salt to the highlands of Ethiopia?
Mekelle
Who supervised the cutting and distribution of salt to the highlands from Mekelle in Ethiopia?
Governor of Enderta
Which coin was introduced from Austria to the Horn of African region at the end of the eighteenth century?
Maria Theresa Thalers (MTT)
Which group of merchants was most dominant in traveling from the interior to the coast for trade?
Muslim Oromo merchants
Study Notes
Trade Routes in 19th Century Ethiopia and the Horn
- The route from Harar branched into Zeila and Berbera, the most important commercial centers in Somalia.
- Ethiopian products were mostly sold in the Middle East.
Exchanged Items in the Trade
- Varieties of items were exchanged between the interior and the coast.
- The southwestern regions were the main sources of exported items.
- Exported items included:
- Gold
- Ivory
- Rhinoceros horn
- Skins
- Civet
- Musk
- Honey
- Wax
- Coffee
- Various spices
- Slaves (raided or bought from different parts of Ethiopia and exported to Arabia, Persia, and India)
Imported Products
- Mirrors
- Ironware
Medium of Exchange
- Salt bars (amole)
- Iron bars
- Wines
- Cowries' shells
- Beads
- Pieces of cotton cloth (abujadi)
- Maria Theresa Thalers (MTT)
Internal Trade
- Amole was the major important commodity and source of wealth.
- Amole was mined in the Afar plains bordering eastern Tigray.
- Amole was suitably shaped for transportation in the Afar plains.
Trade Routes
- The route from Bonga, the capital of Kafa Kingdom, linked peoples and states of southwestern Ethiopia with the northern part of the Ethiopian region.
- Main market centers along this line included:
- Bonga
- Hirmata (in Jimma)
- Saqa (in Limmu)
- Billo (in Leqa-Naqamte)
- Asandabo (in Guduru)
- Basso-Yajube (in Gojjam)
- Yifag and Darita (in Begemider)
- Gondar
- One route bifurcated to westward through Chilga to Matamma-Qallabat (Gallabat) taking commodities to be sold to the Sudanese merchants called Jallaba.
- Another route passed through Adwa, Asmara, and entered Massawa.
- Another route split at Basso to move via Ancharro and Dawwe in Wollo and Awusa in Afar to Tajura, Obbok, and Rahe'ita in Djibouti.
Merchants and Traders
- Diverse peoples of different ethnic and religious backgrounds were involved in the trade.
- Muslim merchants were the most dominant, traveling from the interior to the coast.
- Northern Muslim merchants (Jabarti) and Muslim Oromo merchants of the southwestern region known as Afqala were active in the trade.
- The Argoba from the Kingdom of Shewa were active merchants in the trade between Harar and the northern Somali coast.
Explore the significance of trade routes linking southwestern Ethiopia to the coast during the 19th century, particularly in relation to the revival of external trade in the Red Sea region. Discover how trade facilitated strong relations across diverse peoples and territories in Ethiopia and the Horn.
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