Perhaps one of the most intriguing questions that man had ever posed is about our origin. Archeologists and the others who are burdened to answer the question have been searching in the dark for clues to our origins. But when the 1970’s had arrived, a country had shown potential to answer these questions, it is the beautiful country of Ethiopia. The discovery that was made in Ethiopia had made the world notice the country. But ironically, despite its reputation as one of the most important place for human evolution, it is still the country that most people are unfamiliar with.
People should be familiar with Ethiopia because it is a place of great significance for us to understand our origins. Officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ethiopia is located in the continent of Africa. The Ethiopia is a landlocked country, meaning it is a country that is enclosed by land and by borders of surrounding countries. It is also currently one of the most populated nations in the continent of Africa. Ethiopia is generally regarded as one of the oldest countries in the globe. That is why archeologists had seen the potential of the country in human evolution studies.
Ethiopia became known for being rich in archeological finds such as fossils and artifacts. But what the archeologists had discovered in the 1970’s had caught the world’s attention. Ethiopia is the country where Lucy, the three million year old fossil, was discovered. The discovery of Lucy had provided us a better view of human evolution. Another notable characteristic of Ethiopia is that it is also home to the oldest civilizations. Its history is probably one of the longest spanning of all countries. The earliest record of an early civilization in Ethiopia is of the Kingdom of Axum. The Kingdom of Axum is dated back to the third century BC.
Just like most countries, Ethiopia had interacted with other countries, though most are through colonization. The wide-spanning history makes the Ethiopian culture one of the most intricate and richest culture in the world. Nowadays, the present Ethiopia had become a country that is viewed through stereotypes. Unfortunately for the country, some of these stereotypes are of a negative nature and distorts the image of the country. Some of these stereotypes would paint the image of the country as filled by violence. It is important to consider that no country in the whole world has a violence-free history.
The Ethiopian people are peace-loving and warm-hearted people. They are willing to share the historical treasures to the world. They are expressing their hospitality by allowing archeologists and even plain tourists to view significant sites inside the country. Conclusion The contribution of Ethiopia to the studies on human evolution is truly undeniable. Ethiopia In many sense, the discovery of Lucy and other valuable archeological finds are the gifts of Ethiopia to the world. That is why the world should appreciate and recognize Ethiopia as a beautiful and historically and culturally rich country.
Outline of the presentation Thesis Statement: Ethiopia is a place of great significance for us to understand our origins. I. Introduction II. Objectives A. to reiterate the importance of Ethiopia as the place of origin for man B. to introduce the country to the members audience who are not familiar with the country III. Body A. Brief Background B. Ancient Ethiopia C. Present Ethiopia IV. Conclusion
Works Cited
Ciochon, Russell L. & Fleagle. Primate Evolution and Human Origins. CA: Aldine Transaction. 1987 Kobishchanov, Yuri M. The Historical Geography of Ethiopia (London: the British Academy, 1989), p. 39.