Customer Reviews

A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia

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This book is a series of translations from original documents by the famed Egyptologist/Hebraist Sir E. A Wallis Budge of the British Museum. It was published during the ascendancy of 'Ras Taferi' who had not-yet been enthroned as 'Negus*nagassi', Emperor Haille Selassie of Ethiopia, and was evidently done with his cooperation. It is a fine scholarly work which does not lead itself to 'light' or 'summer beach' reading, but very finely fills in the dearth of available historical and legendary information for the Horn of Africa and, indeed, the entire area immediately South of the European fascination with Egypt. Modern scholars such as Stuart Munro-Hay still reference Budge's translations, and although the scent of the 19th Century Imperial is evident in a few of Budge's editorial comments, it is still indepensable for the student of Ethiopian history. -And someday we will find a 'Rosetta Stone' for Meroitic!

Famed Egyptologist Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, known for his translations of the Papyrus of Ani and other Egyptian works, also turned his attention southward to Nubia and Abyssinia, roughly the lands of southern Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia in the modern age. As could be expected, there is a strong connection between Nubia, Abyssinia and Egypt; for instance, the Nubians DID conquer Egypt at one point and the Coptic Church spread to Ethiopia. As such, Budge is an excellent person to write this book. The one comment I will make is that it is somewhat dated. Budge, while still quite admirable, displays some of the common failings of his day. Nonetheless, as this book was written during Ethiopia's historic years, I still recommend that anyone with an interest in Ethiopia (or all things Ethiopian) check this book out if possible. Its well worth the time to read.