Damot (historical region)
Damot (
History
Damot was the name given to a territory situated south of the Blue Nile and west of Shewa. The area was originally inhabited by a pagan Omotic-speaking ethnic group related to those of Ennarea and Kafa. The earliest reference to the area was in the medieval Egyptian History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria which states that the country of Bani al-Hamwiyah was led by the warrior queen Gudit and rebelled against the Christians of Ethiopia. Carlo Conti Rossini first proposed that the account of this warrior queen where she was described as Bani al-Hamwiyah, ought to be read as Bani al-Damutah, and argued that she was ruler of the once-powerful Kingdom of Damot.[2][3]
The polity seems to have developed contacts with the northern
Damot played an important role in the Horn of Africa trade, as the territory was reportedly an important source of gold. Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi asserts that gold and rare metals from this province were exported as far as Zeila. Portuguese explorer Francisco Álvares who visited the province in the early 16th century describes it being "very big" and that the area produced "plenty supply of provisions" such as ginger, grapes and peaches as well as "many fat sheep and cows of great sizes". The province was likewise renowned for its slaves who were much esteemed "by the Arabs" according to Alvares, who would "not let them go at any price". Arabia, Persia, India, Egypt and Greece were full of slaves from Damot who, upon converting to Islam, made "very good Moors and great warriors".[6]
In 1531, Damot was conquered by Imam
Damot was profoundly affected by the
See also
References
- ^ HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN (Hist. 102)FOR STUDENTS OF HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS (PDF). Ministry of Science and Higher Education. p. 48.
- ISBN 978-1-85065-393-6.
- ISBN 9780932415196.
- ^ Huntingford, G.W.B. The Glorious victories of Amda Seyon, king of Ethiopia. Oxford University Press. p. 20.
- ISBN 9780932415196.
- ISBN 9780932415196.
- ^ Chekroun, Amélie. Le" Futuh al-Habasa" : écriture de l'histoire, guerre et société dans le Bar Sa'ad ad-din (Ethiopie, XVIe siècle). l’Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. p. 336.
- ISBN 9780932415196.
- ISBN 9780932415196.
- ISBN 9780932415196.