Spilling Bbod over Water? The Case of Ethiopia 245between interacting, trans-boundary pastoralist groups. These groups were
divided by the imposition of artificial boundaries by European imperial
powers.Historical Context
The origins of present-day Ethiopia date to the 2nd century BC in the Axumite
Kingdom. The power of the kingdom was initially limited to a small region in
the northern highland plateau of Tigrai. It then expanded extensively in all
directions and covered large parts of northern Ethiopia and the Red Sea coast-
line.9 The existence of the kingdom depended on exacting tributes from the
territories it controlled, as well as trade with most parts of the Arabian
Peninsula.
The centre of power then shifted south, following the decline of the
Axumite Kingdom due mainly to the rise of Islam and disruption of trade
routes. This shift led to the emergence of a medieval state, which claimed to
descend from 'the Solomonic line' to legitimise its rule. The shifting locus of
the state to some degree followed the search for available resources, prima-
rily arable land to cultivate, as well as a need to reinforce the strength of the
state and protect it from conquest. The greatest phase of expansion occurred
during the 14" century when the Abyssinian Kingdom enveloped most of
Tigrai, Shoa and western Ethiopia. One distinctive feature that characterised
most of this period is that the main form of rule of the dependent territories
was expressed through the extraction of tributes, rather than direct rule. The
subject territories or regions were in large pan independent from the centre
and had their own kings, chieftains, and elites, as well as their own armed
forces. Thus, power was diffuse and administration was highly decentralised.
Another important connection with the inception of the state and its rul-
ing classes in Ethiopia was the introduction of orthodox Christianity during
the Axumite Kingdom. Christianity was used to legitimise and strengthen the
power of the ruling class during the this era."' With the continued expansion
and consolidation of power through a combination of force and assimilation,
the mainly Amhara and Trigrean conquerors spread their language, culture
and religion into ever-distantareas. until the lSh century.
In the 16Ih century Ethiopia experienced a major transformation when
Muslim Somali and Afar forces invaded the Abysinnian Kingdom. The Oromo
were also attacked during this time. Both invasions greatly weakened the cen-
tral state and the country dissolved into components of powerful provincial
dynasties (with the exception of Shoa, then the southernmost tip of Ethiopia).
until the mid-nineteenth century."
The centralising tendency continued under different emperors in the north
and Shoa consolidating their power. Centralisation of the state culminated
during the rule of Menelik 11, who expanded his authority and controlled