Ethiopia is one of the eldest cultures of Africa and is known since 2000 BC. Since 700 BC Ethiopia is influenced by Semites and are there relations with the jews. The jewish religion becomes dominant. In the first century the Ethiopian Kingdom of Axum becomes flourishing. In the fourth century Axum becomes a christian country. Following the rise of islam in the seventh century, Axum is gradually cut off from European Christendom. By the tenth century, the Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia emerges as the post-Axumite christian empire. Like Axum, the Zagwe dynasty is a political empire rooted in religion.

A new dynasty, claiming lineage from the mythical king Solomon of Israel and Queen Sheba of Ethiopia, comes to power around 1270. Ethiopia continues expansion and pursues a more aggressive policy towards the south. The kingdom finds itself combating the growing influence of islam closer to home in the coastal regions of Ethiopia. Ethiopia remains isolated for long times, interupted by contacts with Portugal in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. The islam advance is turned back with this Portuguese assistance.

By 1632, after attempts by Portugal to convert Etiopia to roman catholicism, Portuguese are expelled from Ethiopia and foreign interaction is again limited. Between the second half of the 18th century and 1855, Ethiopia is a losely organized nation without a strong, central government. Througout Ethiopia there are regional kings who govern particular regions. Though there are nominal kings and at times an emperor, the real power is in the hands of the princes (Ras). The different principalities are connected economically but are politically disparate. Ethiopia is more or less a confederation.

In 1853 the area is united into the Empire of Ethiopia, also known as Abessynia. Under the emperors Theodore II (1855-68), Johannes IV (1872-89), and Menelik II (1889-1913), Ethiopia begins to emerge from its medieval isolation. When Menelik II dies, his grandson, Lij Iyassu, succeeds him but soon loses support because of his muslim ties. He is deposed in 1916 by the christian nobility and Menelik's daughter, Zewditu, becomes empress. Her cousin, Ras Tafari Makonnen (1892-1975), becomes regent and successor to the throne. After the death of the empress in 1930 Ras Tafari becomes under the name Haile Selassie emperor and gives the country a constitution. In 1936 Italy invades Ethiopia and occupies it. A year later Ethiopia is united with Eritrea and Italian Somalia into Italian East Africa and reorganized as a federation of six provinces. The allied forces liberate Ethiopia in 1941 and the empire is restored.

The former Italian colony of Eritrea is federated with Ethiopia in 1950. Ethiopia gets a parliament elected by universal suffrage in 1955, but the emperor remains the real ruler. Eritrea loses its autonomy in 1960. After an army coup in 1974 the emperor, members of the royal family, ministers and generals are murdered: Ethiopa becomes a military socialist dictatorship. After a second coup and the execution of two predecessors Mengisu Haile Mariam assumes power in 1975 and makes Ethiopia a communist state, renamed in Socialist Ethiopia and in 1987 into People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The first years of the communist dictatorship, when the country is ruled by the Provisional Military Council (Derg), is known for what is called "red terror". Ethiopia becomes a single-party state with the ruling Workers' Party of Ethiopia. The Derg's collapse is hastened by droughts and famine, as well as by insurrections, particularly in the northern regions of Tigray and Eritrea.

In 1991 the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and its allies in the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) forces advance on Addis Ababa and seize together with the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and others power. The state is renamed Ethiopia. That year Eritrea secedes from Ethiopia, which is de jure recognized in 1993. In Ethiopia, President Meles Zenawi and members of the transitional government pledge the formation of a multi-party democracy. The first elections in 1994 lead to a constituent assembly dominated by the EPRDF parties. Ethiopia becomes the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in 1995. The first parliamentary elections are boycotted by most opposition parties and results in a landslide victory for the EPRDF. Meles Zenawi becomes the first federal prime minister of the new republic. His government promotes a policy of ethnic federalism. The position of the EPRDF is confirmed at the elections of 2000. Inside the EPDRF the smallest faction, the TPLF, remains the dominant political force. Ethiopia enjoys greater political participation and freer debate than ever before in their history, although some fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press, are in practice somewhat circumscribed. Despite democratic strcutures, power remains in the hands of the former rebels and the opposition doesn't seem to have a fair chance at elections.