Ethiopia 1931 in color. Modernization of feudalism

Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world. This historical country was located on the very border between Eurasian civilization and "wild" equatorial Africa, so even the Ethiopians have a special race - "mixed" or "transitional".

The Ethiopians were among the first in the world to adopt Christianity, however, due to their “peripheral” position, their society found itself, as it were, on the sidelines of civilization, frozen at the level of early feudalism by the beginning of the 20th century. The presence of statehood made it possible to somehow fight off the European colonialists who were pressing on from all sides.

In 1930 Emperor Haile Selassie (1892-1975) ascended the throne and began the modernization and westernization of the country. It was a kind of Peter I who wanted to introduce Western institutions in the face of increasing absolutism and the domination of the feudal class. However, in 1930 Haile Selassie announced the gradual abolition of slavery, in 1931 he introduced a formal constitution, in Art. 5 which said: “By virtue of her imperial blood, and also by virtue of her anointing to the kingdom, the person of the emperor is sacred, her dignity is inviolable and her power is inviolable ...”

Other steps to modernize the country were the construction of schools, hospitals, roads, and the creation of a regular army. In 1930, photographer Robert Moore went to Ethiopia on assignment from the American magazine National Geographic to capture in color the progressive transformations taking place there and the coronation of the emperor.

(Total 17 photos)

Source: Journal/visualhistory

1. Statue of Emperor Menelik II in front of St. George's Cathedral in Addis Ababa, June 1931.

But it is somewhat reminiscent of the capital of another Orthodox empire, in which 240 years earlier they also hit feudalism with Westernization!

2. And on the steps of the same St. George's Cathedral, Ethiopian veterans in traditional clothes are sitting

3. They are

4. And Orthodox clergy at the same cathedral

5. And here is Emperor Haile Selassie himself, who will rule with an iron fist until 1975, until he is overthrown by the Marxist revolution

6. Governor of Tigre Province with representatives of the American Mission

7. Dear people from the USA who came to support the reforms

8. Fetawrari Mou lou Gueta, Minister of War

9. Archbishop of the EOC

10. Empress Menen

11. The people gathered on the occasion of the coronation

12. Ordinary Ethiopian soldiers during the coronation

13. Warrior dressed as a lion and a rhinoceros

14. Very soon these soldiers will have to meet Mussolini's tanks

15. Noble Amharic women in Addis Ababa

16. Ethiopian light industry

17. During a trip to Lake Tsana