History of Ethiopia and the Horn

These flashcards cover essential terminology and concepts related to the study of the history of Ethiopia and the Horn.

History

An organized and systematic study of the past, including the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events.

Primary Sources

Original or firsthand sources that provide direct evidence about historical events, such as manuscripts, diaries, and artifacts.

Secondary Sources

Second-hand accounts of historical events that are written after the events have occurred and are often based on primary sources.

Historiography

The history of historical writing; the study of how knowledge of the past is obtained and transmitted.

Chronicles

Written accounts that explain historical events mainly in religious terms, often focusing on the character and lives of kings.

Hagiography

A biography that overly glorifies its subject, often saints, enhancing their prestige in historical writing.

Geographical Context

The physical characteristics and location that shape the historical narrative of a region, like mountains, rivers, and climatic factors.

Rift Valley

A fissure in the Earth's crust marking the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, influencing the geography of Northeast Africa.

Oral Sources

Information transmitted orally from generation to generation, valuable in studying the history of non-literate societies.

Critical Evaluation

The process of assessing the reliability and authenticity of historical sources before they are used as evidence.