Lesson 1: Summary

Long distance trade in Ethiopia was conducted by Muslim merchants. It revived in the 19thcentury.The leading merchants of the time were known as Jabarti and Afkala. TheJabartiwere Muslim merchants in Northern Ethiopia.The Afkala were Muslim Merchants in South Western Ethiopia. The revival of long-distance trade in the nineteenth century had a significant effect on the political developments in the Gibe region. It was through the agency of Muslim merchants that Islam was introduced to the Gibe region in the first half of the nineteenth century. The introduction and spread of Islam helped the Oromo chiefs to establish monarchies and legitimize their power by neglecting the Gada system and other Oromo practices which were against hereditary rule or monarchy. Islamhelped the rulers in southwestern Ethiopia to strengthen their state apparatus, rein force their authority, and facilitate the growth of trade. The long-distance trade created strong links between the people of northern Ethiopia and south-western Ethiopia.