The Amhara are the most politically and culturally dominant group in
the Ethiopia. They are the most populous group, representing a fourth of
the population of the ethic group Ethiopia. They are located in the central
highland plateau of Ethiopia. The Amhara have wondered this land for more
than two thousand years and have been isolated from influences of the rest
The Amhara haven't changed their way of life much over the past
hundreds years, they continue to practice a form of agriculture that
involves ox drown plows, simples irrigations systems and simples tools for
harvesting crops. Some crops that they harvest are barley, hops beans,
wheat, and a grain called teff. The Ahamara were able to grow such crops
on these cool temperature highland plateaus because the fertile was blessed
with volcanic soil and ample rainfall to make three full harvests per year.
Amharic is the language of this culture. It shows its Semitic origin
both in its alphabet and words shared with Hebrew and Arabic. The origins
derive from a Sabean language spoken by merchants and traders who migrated
in Ethiopia from Yemen region of South Arabia about 3000 thousand years
ago. Amharic is the language of culture and education, spoken by millions
of other Ethiopians and Eritreans as a second language.
The Amhara people are Coptic Monophysite Christians. Ancient Amhara
culture had a writing system that preserved the ancient teachings of
Christianity in a language that is not spoken by people today but remains
the language of the church. The language is Geez. Geez is used only in the
context of Amhara Christianity; its function is similar to Latin in the
Roman Catholic Church. Amhara Christianity is very different than our
Christianity; Ethiopian Christianity is loaded with Old Testament religion
and folklore as well as elements of a so called "pagan" religion. The
Amhara consists of four separate religious belie...