Unique languages and writing
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It is not only its calendar that differentiates Ethiopia
from its neighbors. Alone in Africa, Ethiopia has its own
script and notational system.
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Religions
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The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the oldest Christian church
in Africa. Christianity became the state religion in the Axumite
empire in 330 AD., even before Rome.
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Muslim refugees were given asylum in Ethiopia, established
communities and were free to worship before Islam triumphed
in its birthplace Arabia.
3000 years of Independence
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When the European powers were scrambling to carve up Africa
between them, Ethiopia retained its independence. The defeat
inflicted by the Ethiopian army under Emperor Menelik II on
invading Italian forces at Adwa in 1896 was the heaviest suffered
by any European army in Africa, and reverberated throughout
the world at the time.
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The occupation of Ethiopia by Mussolini’s forces from 1935-41
was met with strong and continuous resistance, and left no permanent
stamp on the character of the country or the psyche of its people.
Ethiopianess
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Ethiopia’s unique character, its "Ethiopianess", makes it a fascinating
destination. There are more than 80 ethnic groups and as many languages.
A proud, ancient and living history
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Ethiopia has the most extensive historic sites in Sub - Saharan Africa.
Experts estimate that perhaps as little as 5% of the total has so far been
discovered and excavated. The oldest hominid remains (Australopithecus
ramidus, a new species, 4.4 million years old) were found here.
Top to bottom
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In elevation it ranges from 120 meters below sea level in harsh salt flats of
the Danakil depression, to the 4624-meter peak of Ras Dashen in the Simien mountains.
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