Ethiopia

This country is officially known today as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. For most of its history, the region has been ruled by a monarchy. The earliest kingdom, the D'mt, reigned from 700 to 400 BC and was succeeded by the Askumite Empire, which gained prominence in the 1st century CE and declined around the 9th century. Both Ethiopia and its neighbor Eritrea were ruled by the Zagwe dynasty from 1137 to 1270, and after this the Solomnic dynasty, which is the traditional ruling house of Ethiopia. Europeans first made contract with Ethiopia in the 15th century, but the nation retained its independence through the colonial period and resisting the Ottomans in the mid-16th century. Christianity was introduced to the nation in the 4th century, and eventually it was brought under the dominion of the Coptic Church of Alexandria.

Following a period of isolationism from 1755 to 1855, Ethiopia endured a series of local rebellions, as well as incursions from the Ottoman Empire, Egypt and a military expedition from Great Britain. The borders of the present nation were established under the reign of Emperor Menelik II in the late 19th century. In a treaty signed with Italy, a region of modern day Eritrea was ceded in exchange for political support and arms. The early 20th century was marked by the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I, who undertook the modernization of Ethiopia from 1916. The nation was briefly occupied by Italy from 1936 to 1941, but was liberated with the assistance of British forces during the East African Campaign, although the Italians continued to fight a guerilla campaign until 1943.