It has become a cliche in African studies to say that Ethiopia is unique in Africa. By elaborating on four new concepts, geber system, tabot Christianity, Aksumite paradigm and Ge'ez civilization, Teshale Tibebu presents an original interpretation of Ethiopian social history that will have far-reaching repercussions in Ethiopianist discourse. In a masterful usage of Amharic language, Techale Tibebu undertakes a social-cultural reconstruction of modern Ethiopian social history.

The book deals with the period from the Battle of Adwa to the end of Haile Selassie's reign. it addresses fundamental issues pertaining tot he making of modern Ethiopia such as the civilization from within, and Orientalist Semiticist discourse in Western paradigm from without, and class and national contradictions.

This is a work of comparative history that draws extensively from modern African history as well as from medieval and modern European history.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TESHALE TIBEBU was born in Gojjam, Ethiopia and educated at Addis Abeba University and Binghamton University where he received his Ph.D. he is currently teaching African History at Temple University.

CATEGORY
History/AFRICA