A History of Ethiopia

by Harold G. Marcus

Book Overview

In this eminently readable, concise history of Ethiopia, Harold Marcus surveys the evolution of the oldest African nation from prehistory to the present. For the updated edition, Marcus has written a new preface, two new chapters, and an epilogue, detailing the development and implications of Ethiopia as a Federal state and the war with Eritrea.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520224795
• ISBN13: 9780520224797
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A foundation for learning Ethiopian history

I found the book well-written and well-organized according to significant changes in Ethiopia's development. Economics, as well as politics, ethnology and technology are used to explain events and their significance. One thing that did annoy me is the fact that historic maps are all located together in the back, rather than in the sections in which they are relevent. The use of some of the Ethiopian titles of nobility is also confusing, when European equivalents would have done just as well. Not a casual read by any means, but a serious student of African history could do much worse than Marcus' book.

Good Book

This was the first History book I have read for leisure and I was supprised at how interested I was. A very well written and researched work. The only complaint I have is that the vocabulary was to much for me in places. Im used to looking things up in the dictionary, but not this much. Overall a very good read, will leave you wanting more.

Comprehensive history of a nation state in crisis

A must for any course work on Ethiopia, and eastern Africa. Combines the approach of narrative history - from the dawn of civilization to recent conflict - with an explanation of the dynamics behind the inherent conflict between unity and autonomy in Ethiopia.

A great Ethiopian history primer.

Marcus does not attempted to create a greatly in depth text here, and the greater portion of tyhe book relates to events after 1850. However, the book serves as an excellent primer. Anyone with even a passing interest in history should enjoy this review of one of the oldest and richest cultural histories in the world.