The Ethiopians

The Ethiopians provides a truly revelatory overview of Ethiopia until 1500 that spans epochs and disciplines. Steven Kaplan artfully synthesizes recent research about the Ethiopian past, simultaneously narrating both new historical perspectives and shaping a critical historiography. * Kay Kaufman Shelemay, G. Gordon Watts Research Professor of Music and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University *
This incisive volume is one we have been waiting for. In this excellent introduction to the ancient and “medieval” history of Ethiopia from the legend of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba to the end of the Middle Ages, Steven Kaplan has traced a clearly delineated and freshly interpreted path across the millennia. The Ethiopians is a concise synthesis of current scholarship and a welcome reinterpretation of what has been previously accepted, time and again providing innovative and compelling interpretations that offer wide-ranging food for thought for the current and future generations devoted to the study of the highlands. This book is full of valuable insights for experts, but will also greatly enhance the understanding of the history of the region and its highly diverse populations for readers with no previous knowledge. Essential reading. * Michael Gervers, Professor of History, University of Toronto *