Ethiopia is a very ancient country whose rich culture and history goes back to pre historic times. It is one of the countries with the longest history in the world. Archaeological findings have identified Ethiopia as cradle of mankind. The discovery of one of the ancient and most complete hominoids, ancient cave paintings and tools, are some of the evidences of its pre-historic glory.

Axum (from 200 B.C to 8 century A.D) was one of the mighty maritime states of the era whose power was felt far beyond the Red Sea. With the decline of Axum as a sea power, the centre of the state moved further south to Lalibela, North Shoa and Gondar. Throughout its long history. Ethiopia has to defend itself against foreign invaders iured by its geopolitical position, being at the crossroads of Africa and Asia, and by the then natural beauty and fertility of the land. It has successfully defended itself from the colonial powers and has become the symbol of hope, independence and freedom for Africa.

The Ethiopian people diverse culture is manifested in the various languages, ways of life customs etc. Amharic, Oromiffa and Tigrigna are the major languages spoken by the majority of the population. It has successfully defended itself from the colonial powers has has become the symbole of hope independence and freedom for Africa.

Ethiopian the oldest independent nation in Africa is a land of stunning natural beauty, covering an area twice the size of France or Texas. It contains wonders in geographic, climatic and biological diversity, as well as natural resource. Made up of a mosaic of people with over 80 different languages and as many cultures. With a current population over 83 million, it is a third century empire, along with the Roman and Chinese empires. Ethiopia is also the home of Lucy, the 3.2 million years old fossil of early hominids, and selam, 150.000 years older than Lucy.

Ethiopia with a surface area of about 1.2 million square kilometers is the 7th largest country in Africa. It is located in East Africa in the sub-region better known as the Horn of Africa. The topography of the country is largely a high plateau with an elevation ranging from 100 meters below sea level in the Dallol Depression of Afar, to mountain peacks of over 4,500 meters above sea level in semien Mountains. The highest peaks are Ras Dashen in the semien and Batu in the Bale Mountains.

Resulting from an extensive fault that cracked the old crystalline block of the African continent along the eastern side, Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley stretches from the eastern end of the Mediterranean Basin down to Mozambique in the southeastern highlands. On each side of the highlands, the Rift Valley system gives way to vast semiarid lowland area in the east, west and especially the south.

Ethiopia is land locked and bordered by six countries. Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and the Sudan. In the central region of the country, you will find a high, largely mountainous plateau, traversed by the Great Rift Valley and varying in height from 2,000 to 3,000 meters, crisscrossed by rivers, of which the Blue Nile is the most prominent. The terrain gradually slopes to lowlands in the west and plains and desert in the east and south.

Ethiopian climate varies according to the different topographical regions. The central plateau has a moderate climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation. Ethiopian climate with abundant flora and fauna, many of them endemic. The climate in Ethiopia is mainly influenced by altitude and the main climatic regions are the following.

The Dega (Cool to Cold Temperature)
This is typical of the cool highland s where average temperature falls between 100C and 160C. The altitude is 2,500 meters above sea level. In high elevations such as the Bale or the Semien Mountains, temperatures can go below 00C. Were warm clothes and extra blankets are needed during the rainy season and colder months. On the other hand, temperatures can exceed 400C in the lowland deserts of the east and south.

Weina Daga (Warm to Cool Climate)
Average annual temperature ranges between 160C and 200C and comprises much of the highlands between 1,500 to 2,500 meters above sea level.

Kollo (Warm to hot climate)
This is the climate of the hot lowlands, and the average temperature is between 200C to 300C. The altitude ranges from 500 to 1,500 meters above sea level.

Bereha (hot and arid climate)
This covers the area of the desert lowlands below 500 meters above sea level and the average annual temperature is over 300C.

There are two distinct seasons in Ethiopia, the dry season which is for the most part from October to May (mostly winter season in Europe) and rainy season from June to September (summer season in Europe). Small rains may also arrive around March and April, lasting a few weeks temperatures depend on season and altitude.

People and culture.
Ethiopia with a population of nearly 80 million is the second populous nation in Africa. The Ethiopian people are composed of deferent ethnic, religious and language back-grounds from Semitic, Cushitic and Nilotic origins.

Over 80 languages are spoken in the country, out of which the majority of the people speak Amharic, Oromiffa and Tigrigna. The Ethiopian alphabet consists of 33 letters each with seven characters. It has 38 diphthongs and numerals. The writing system is syllabic and written from left to right. It makes Ethiopia the only sub-Saharan African country having a written language. English is used secondary and tertiary education and is the most popularly used international language. Arabic, Italian and French are also widely spoken in some segments of the society.