Grade 11 History unit 7: States, principalities, population movements and interactions in Ethiopia

Yikuno Amlak was a local ruler in Amhara who founded the new dynasty, called the "Solomonic" dynasty, around 1270. Amde Tsiyon came later (r. 1314-44), Imam Ahmad led Adal, and Zer`a Ya`ekob ruled from 1434 to 1468.

The succession problem was serious, and five kings ruled briefly between 1294 and 1299. Amba Gishen, also called Debre Negest, kept the male descendants of Yikuno Amlak (except his sons) away from power. This helped the dynasty pass power smoothly.

The textbook says that during 1270 to 1529, Zeyla replaced the Red Sea coast as the main gateway for trade. That is why this trade is called the Zeyla trade. Harar was an inland centre, and Lake Hayk was a royal capital area.

The textbook defines Gult as the right to levy tribute on the owners of Rist land and its produce. Option A describes Rist, not Gult. Raising a regional army was a duty of the Bale Gult, not the definition of Gult itself.

The chapter says that in March 1529, a coalition of Muslim lowlanders led by Imam Ahmad of Adal defeated King Libne Dingil's army at Shimbra Kure. Ahmad Badlay died in 1445, Mahfuz was killed in 1517, and Sa`ad ad-Din II fought in the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

The textbook says Adal was first centred at Dakar, south east of Harar, and that in 1520 its centre was shifted to Harar. Debre Birhan was a centre used by Imam Ahmad, Aksum was under his control, and Dembiya was his last centre.

The chapter states that Zer`a Ya`ekob founded Debre Birhan in 1454 and subsequently lived there for fourteen years. This was one of the examples of a king who stayed in one place, which was a change from the moving capitals.

The textbook says that in the final battle the army of Ifat was defeated and Sabr ad-Din escaped to the neighbouring Sultanate of Dawaro. Amde Tsiyon then captured him there. Yemen was where the sons of Sa`ad ad-Din II took refuge.

The chapter says Gelawdewos led the combined Ethiopian and Portuguese forces and defeated the Imam's army at Woyna Dega. Ahmad was shot by a Portuguese musketeer and died soon after. Gondar was not founded until 1636, so it could not have been where he was taken.

The textbook clearly says the war was not mainly religious. It was the last stage of earlier conflicts between the Walasma Sultans and the Christian kings over the Zeyla trade and the lands through which trade routes passed. Option A is the choice the text rejects.