Lalibela town historical background

The downfall of the famous Axumite Empire was on the making for several factors. During the late sixth and early seventh centuries, war in the eastern Mediterranean reduced the market for luxury goods in the increasingly impoverished Roman Empire; then Persia (now Iraq) gained control of South Arabia threatening trade routes to India, and in the early eight century Arab forces destroyed Adulis the only port of Ethiopia in the North for that time. As a result Axum was isolated from the Red Sea trade and the region’s degraded agricultural base could no longer support the extravagances of the social hierarchy it had fostered, centralised power collapsed. Within a few generations Axum and its Satellite urban communities were reduced to loose clusters of villages, with a few residences of the elite established in defensive locations on steep hillsides.
Beginning around 750 AD, the region’s difficulties were increased by a decline in annual rainfall. The rainfall pattern reverted to the single season that had prevailed before Axum rose to wealth and power. Agricultural production was reduced still further. Even where soil fertility had been maintained, only one harvest per year could be expected. With this reversion to the Ethiopian plateau’s ancient rainfall pattern, the surviving population relied heavily on the food crop that had evolved in the region.
By 800 AD Axum had almost ceased to exist. The elite and sections of the common people abandoned the denuded landscape in favour of settlement on virgin soils of central Ethiopia. Then Axum became only as a symbol of Royal and religious authority.
At this difficult time the Felashas, Ethiopian Jews, refused to pay taxes to the Axumite kingdom and the king of Axum sent troops to the Felasha regions and forced them to pay taxes. Repeated raids frustrated the Felashas. In the 10th century, Queen Gudit who was born from the king called Gideon (Felasha family-Jewish) united the Felashas, and marched to Axum to try to remove the Axumite dynasty from Ethiopia once and for all. She destroyed Axum, overthrew and killed the King and Princes ending the Axumite kingdom.
The economic and political crises that started for the decline of Axume in the 7th century finally lead it to its collapse in the first mid of the 10th century. This also led to the rise of the Zagwe Dynasty. This period of history is known in Ethiopian tradition as end of the first millennium.
Following Queen Gudit's campaign against Axum, Mara Teklehaimanot who was known as one of the Axumite king’s General founded the Zagwe Dynasty. He became the first Zagwe King and ruled the country from his center in Lasta.
The House of Zagwe originally was in Bugna, then moved to Roha, a high and almost inaccessible, militarily strategic area of the Lasta Mountains. From here the Zagwe kings ruled almost all the territories of the Axum, except beyond the Red Sea. Its territories extended from the North, the Swakin port, Kartuom, Abay coasts around Assosa, Shewa except the hilly region of east of the Shewa plateau which lapsed in the face of the region’s increasing occupation by the Muslim rulers of Ifat and Hadya.
The duration of the Zagwe dynasty was approximately 300 years or a bit more, although there are no accurate and well recorded historical evedince of these leaders and the duration of their reign. The legendary sources are rare and inadequate.
The Zagwe rulers and their intention to create a powerful and great state could be witnessed by the Churches they constructed and the unique Monolithic Churches that they hewed some 900 years ago. These living legends of the Lalibela Rock hewn churches witness that Ethiopia was ahead many aspects politically, diplomatically, economically, and socially 900 years ago.
One of the most important features to the Zagwe rulers was that after they came to power they strengthen the Axumite Culture, protect and strengthen the Ethiopian sovereignty. Their most significant achievement during that remote past includes:

1. They strengthen the relation between different ethnic groups (Cushetic, Semetic, Omotic, Nilotic) who had different language and religion and promoted the Axumite Civilization.
2. They lead the Christians, Muslims and Jew society with out any violence, so that the country was peaceful during their era. They promoted diplomacy with the neighbouring Muslim countries.
3. Their neutral position and peace loving strategy keep their national security from the eve of the ‘Crusade’ devastation that was held between the European Christian and Middle East Muslims from 1095-1365.
4. Due to their peace loving and diplomatic ability they get a place to build Church in the holy city of Jerusalem. The people of Ethiopia were allowed to live with out trouble in the Muslim country.
5. They developed Ethiopian culture carved the Rock hewn churches in Lalibela, which are in the recent time known as the 8th wonder of world, and beyond Abay, during the difficult time for Ethiopian Christians to reach Jerusalem for pilgrims because of Crusade.
6. They have coined a new language, the Amharic, as a secret palace language which latter on to date has become the official language of Ethiopia.

Journey through the highland of Ethiopia

November 18th, 2008

By Michelle |Academic Travel Abroad

As Senior Program Manager at Academic Trevel Abroad (ATA), I have the responsibility of visiting international destinations and inspecting all aspects of the itineraries our groups will follow. The past twelve years at ATA have given me countless opportunities to travel to and develop programs in far-flung destinations in the South Pacific, Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Scandinavia, and Cuba , However, my recent visit to Ethiopia profoundly impacted me in a way that rarely occurs to well-seasoned travelers.

My journey followed the highland route, just like the Pacific Science Center’s itinerary. This encompasses Addis Ababa , Bahir Dar, Gondar, the Simien Mountains, Axum, and Lalibela. Each site I visited in these cities fascinated me and offered insight to distinct aspects of Ethiopia’s history, art, and lifestyles.

One of my favorite stops was Awaramba, a unique secular community where the people work hard to support their residents from cradle to grave. Men and women are equal, the elderly are cared for, children are not responsible for chores beyond their ability, and daily tasks are designated according to an individual’s skill.

I also enjoyed a visit to Lalibela, where the numerous rock-hewn churches are Ethiopia’s most famous site. These architectural and engineering feats are most impressive, but what also impacted me was how important these churches and the Orthodox Christian religion are to Ethiopians.

17-oct-simien-mts-091Another great surprise for me was the beautiful landscapes. The drives were never dull because there was always something new to see, whether it was extensive plains full of crops or the changing perspectives while driving through the mountains. In addition, there were always people to observe as they engaged in their daily activities—children on their way to school, people walking miles to the local market, subsistence farmers clearing crops of sorghum with ancient tools, or young boys shepherding their animals. I also kept quite busy waving back to all the people who waved to us as we drove by.

At the end of each day, I would think, “Wow, that was an amazing day.” I always enjoy my travels to other countries, but I can’t think of a time where I would consistently describe each day with such superlatives.

Lalibela town in the Little world

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