Zemene Mesafint Period: Key Features & Ethiopian History Quiz and Flashcards

What period in Ethiopian history is characterized by the regional lords holding actual political power?

Who 'assassinated' King Iyoas in 1769?

Which region did Ras Mikael Sehul rule over for nine years until his death in 1780?

What was the name of the new ruling dynasty founded by Ali Gwangul in 1786?

What was a major objective of the regional lords during the Zemene-Mesafint period?

What was a consequence of the doctrinal controversy within the Orthodox Tewahedo Church during the Zemene-Mesafint period?

What was a title sought by the regional lords during the Zemene-Mesafint period?

How many years did the Zemene-Mesafint period last?

Zemene-Mesafint period

Regional lords' goals

Church conflict impact

Zemene-Mesafint duration

Zemene-Mesafint Period

Lasted from 1769 to 1855, a time of regional lords holding actual power
Characterized by chaos and disorder, with various regional lords fighting each other

Ras Mikael Sehul

Kingmaker during the Zemene-Mesafint period
Took strong measures against the nobility
Defeated in the battle of Sarba-Kussa in 1771 and forced to return to his power base in Tigrai
Ruled Tigray for nine years until his death in 1780

Yejju Dynasty

Founded by Ali Gwangul (Ali I) from the Yejju Oromo family in 1786
Brought relative stability to the region under the rule of his successors

Regional Lords

Ruled over different regions including Tigray, Semen, Debye, Begemedir, Lasta, Yejju, Wollo, Gojjam, and Shewa
Fought each other for territory, title of Ras Bitweded, and tribute collection

Consequences of Power Struggle

Worsened by religious conflicts within the Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Weakened the position of both the Ethiopian state and the Church
Peasants suffered from frequent wars, forced to feed armies and shiftas (bandits)
Discouraged peasants from working hard and producing surplus production
Farmlands became battlefields, and villages were burnt down

This quiz covers the Zemene-Mesafint period of Ethiopian history, marked by the reign of Ras Mikael Sehul and the power struggles between regional lords. It spans from 1769 to 1855, a time of great upheaval in Ethiopian politics.