Amhara people

The Amhara people are one of the largest and most influential ethnic groups in Ethiopia. The ancestors of the Amhara first came to the Ethiopian highlands in ancient times and established advanced and productive farms. Their communities and cultures grew in the coming centuries until the Amhara established a powerful empire. In modern times, the Amhara remain a very powerful group in Ethiopia. Most Amhara people still practice the traditions of agriculture, though many also hold other jobs in cities. They use a Semitic-based language called Amharic, and most Amhara practice a unique localized form of Christianity. The Amhara, in modern times, face many of the same troubles as other Ethiopians, including revolutions, droughts, disease, and overpopulated cities.

Background

The ancient origins of the Amhara people can be traced back about three thousand years. The early ancestors of the Amhara came from the land known in modern times as southern Saudi Arabia. These people crossed a strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and began to explore the eastern coast of Africa. Moving inland, they discovered good soil in a region of highlands today known as Ethiopia. The ancestral Amhara began using the land for extensive farming. They introduced new inventions and technologies for agriculture, including irrigation and plows. They also developed advanced methods of farming on hillsides by cutting step-like formations called terraces into the earth. The agricultural production brought a rise in population and prosperity.

As the Amhara people's farms grew, so did their villages and towns. The early Amhara developed advanced forms of architecture, building sturdy structures of stone, whereas other local groups were using wood and other less-durable materials. Merchants from Africa and Asia began to meet in Amhara communities to trade goods and share knowledge. Handiwork, including incense production and textile weaving, became common activities at which the Amhara excelled.

The Amhara combined their thriving industries with a strong language system and government. The original language of the Amhara, Amharic, was of the Semitic linguistic family and encompassed a writing system with many characters. This written language enabled the Amhara to increase their social organization and quickly develop a government. The political might of the Amhara grew so quickly that it soon became an empire of city-states ruled by powerful kings with strong military forces. These forces could wipe out opposition and expand the empire's borders. The military might of the ancient Amhara entered the cultural consciousness, leading to many legends and fables of fearless warriors and bloody victories.

The land known today as Ethiopia contained many ethnic groups. The Amhara were one of the strongest. Their rivals were the Tigray people. For most of Ethiopian history, the Amhara and Tigray dominated the politics of the land. Only in the twentieth century did this trend shift. For a brief time in the 1930s and 1940s, Italians attempted to colonize Ethiopia. The Amhara and Tigray regained their control following the collapse of the Italian colony. Until the 2020s, the Tigray won more influence in Ethiopia, though the Amhara remain a major faction. This changed in 2018 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. Although the Amhara won influence, both groups retained tensions with the government.

Overview

With about twenty to thirty million people, the Amhara are among the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Although Amhara communities may be found all over the country, their population is clustered mainly in the highlands in the central and northwestern areas of Ethiopia. This region is naturally protected by mountains and gorges, keeping the Amhara physically safe from invaders and culturally insulated from many outside influences. Its soils are rich, and its climate is conducive to agriculture, giving modern Amhara the same livelihood as their ancient ancestors.

Although Amhara people may hold many jobs, from shopkeepers to soldiers, most Amhara industry is still based on agriculture. Families often work together on their farms. Men generally perform the main farming tasks, such as plowing the fields and cutting crops. Women handle an array of challenging secondary chores, including keeping their homes stocked with water and preparing and serving food and drinks. Children, too, are occupied with farm and family tasks, including gathering cow manure to be burned as fuel. Amhara families often travel together to town squares on a regular basis to buy, sell, and trade goods.

Families are very important to Amhara culture, both for cultural and economic reasons. Large families can cooperate on extensive work tasks, with every member having a specific chore. The Amhara culture is patriarchal, meaning males have the most power. Men generally perform most tasks away from the homestead and earn the main wages for the family. The Amhara have many practices and beliefs about social standing and different formalities to show respect to others, inside and outside the family unit.

Many other Amhara beliefs and practices are based on their religion. In the fourth century CE, most Amhara people converted to Christianity, a religion they still retain with many of its ancient traditions intact. Amhara Christianity differs significantly from the religion as practiced by most other peoples. The Amhara incorporate ancient lore and "pagan" practices into many of their observances. For example, the faithful may believe that protector spirits can save them and punish their enemies or that magical powers and monsters—many serving the forces of evil—exist among the regular population. Despite the widespread Christian-based theologies, a small number of Amhara practice Islam.

Traditionally, Amhara education was overseen by religious teachers or carried out by stories and proverbs. In modern times, however, more secular and standardized forms of education have become common among the Amhara in many parts of Ethiopia. Education is more common in urban areas than in rural areas. Urban students often receive Western-style educations and may choose between local universities or learning abroad in Europe or the United States.

The Amhara and other Ethiopians face many troubles in the modern world. Political instability, including deadly revolutions in the twentieth century, cost many lives and brought social turmoil. Serious droughts caused farmers to leave their agricultural homelands and crowd into cities. There, overpopulation has led to rampant crime, disease, and other problems. Another concern among the Amhara is reconciling their patriarchal traditions with modern concepts of gender equality.

In the 2020s, Ethiopia is plagued by regional conflicts and ethnic tensions, which have greatly affected the Amhara people, who continue to experience conflict with the government. Ahmed won reelection in 2021, although the election was marred by controversy. Regional conflicts, human rights concerns, and ethnic tensions continued to define Ethiopia in the twenty-first century, greatly affecting the Amhara people.

Bibliography

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