The Ethiopians: A History (Peoples of Africa) [Paperback]

Richard Pankhurst (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631224939 | ISBN-13: 978-0631224938 | Publication Date: February 22, 2001

The book opens with a review of Ethiopian prehistory, showing how the Ethiopian section of the African Rift Valley has come to be seen as the "cradle of humanity".

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Clear, balanced and well informed, drawing on the latest sources to valuable effect, especially in references to archaeological work." Times Literary Supplement

"Richard Pankhurst's contribution to The Peoples of Africa series will be a useful tool for students and general readers who are new to Ethiopian history." Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies

"The Ethiopians makes an excellent introduction to the fascinating past of Ethiopia." Danny Yee's Book Reviews - For the full text of this review please visit: http://dannyreviews.com/h/Ethiopians.html

"... excellent, based on current scholarship, factual and replete with the type of generalizations necessary for a good tertiary study." Journal of African History

Book Description

This comprehensive history charts the fascinating development of Ethiopian peoples & their society from prehistory to present day.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (February 22, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631224939
• ISBN-13: 978-0631224938
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > History > Africa > Ethiopia
  • #77 in Books > History > Africa > East Africa

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A short yet comprehensive history of Ethiopia., June 3, 2002

By 

José Saavedra - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ethiopians: A History (Peoples of Africa) (Paperback)

Richard Pankhurst is one of the foremost modern authorities on Ethiopia. This book is a summary of many more that he has written on the subject. It has acceptable maps (these can almost always be improved) and a helpful chronological table. The prose flows easily and it is a pleasure to read.
My purpose in buying the book was to be able to have conversations regarding Ethiopia with a good friend who has just returned after spending 20 years there. He was impressed that I could ask him to tell me in more detail about the Tigray, or the Amharas or the Oromos, or the Italian occupation or the war with Eritrea!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly and insightful introduction to Ethiopian history, March 26, 2006

By 

R. Nelson "R. Nelson" (Canberra) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ethiopians: A History (Peoples of Africa) (Paperback)

The Ethiopians - A history is a scholarly introduction to Ethiopian history by an author with a profound insight into the subject. Commencing with the dawn of pre-history, Professor Pankhurst provides a well organised trek through the events, people and geography that are Ethiopia. The perspective is that of an empathetic, embedded westerner, conveying a deep passion for the subject while connecting with an educated western audience. Ethiopia has a very long and complex history, making the task of summarising it extremely challenging. It is therefore almost inevitable that any brief description of this fascinating web of events and people must at times verge on the clinical. This book is, however, by no means free of passion. It would be inhuman for any author to not convey some degree of emotion when reporting events such as the 1935 invasion by Mussolini's regime, and colonial attitudes to such a proud and independent nation. Overall this book provides a very useful historical basecamp from which the reader can make forays into the complexity of Ethiopia.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, November 13, 2007

By 

Chris (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ethiopians: A History (Peoples of Africa) (Paperback)

This is a good book, especially when it got to the nineteenth century. My only complaint is that it barely says anything about ancient Axum (thats like writing a history of Italy but skipping over the Roman empire). The text also seemed to focus on Ethiopia's connection with the rest of the world, rather than focusing on Ethiopia's history and the Ethiopian people themselves (that is , their culture). An imformative read but hardly the kind of info I expected.