Da’amat (980 – 400 BC) was the first Kingdom in Ethiopia. This region is important to world history because scientists believe that this is the birthplace of the human civilisation. The oldest human skulls, two adults and one child’s were discovered in Herto, Ethiopia in 1997. They were dated to be 160,000 years old.
The capital of Da’amat was Yeha, which is in Northern Ethiopia and exists today. The oldest structure in Ethiopia, the temple of Yeha is also still located here. The Kingdom of Da’amat was very important because it made iron tools’, weapons and grew millet. It traded gold, silver, slaves, ivory and tortoise shells with South Arabian merchants. The Kingdom was able to do this because the location of its capital Yeha had good access to both the Red Sea and to Yemen in the East. Other cities that played a role in the Kingdom of Da’amat include Qohaito and Matara. In Qohaito there are old buildings such as the pre-Christian temple of Mariam Wakino and Sahira Dam. In fact both these cities, Qohaito and Matara thrived as a stop on the trade route between Adulis and Aksum during the Empire of Aksumite (100-940 AD).
Ethiopian tradition states that the Queen of Sheba, also known as Makenda established her palace in Ethiopia in 950 BC. She is mentioned in the Bible, the Qu’ran, in Jewish sources and in Turkish and Persian paintings. She was a woman of power and her visit to King Solomon (the famous King of Israel) has provided the founding stories for the modern states of both Ethiopia and Israel. In the Old Testament, we learn that she brought precious stones, incense and spices to the court of King Solomon. In the Qu’ran we learn that the Queen of Sheba was also called the Queen of Saba. It is in the Ethiopian Holy book from the 14th century however, the Kebra Nagast (Glory of the Kings) where we learn about the Queen in detail. We learn of her trip to King Solomon, her return to Ethiopia and the birth of her and King Solomon’s son, ‘Menelik.’ Menelik would become a ruler of Ethiopia and would come to be known as Menelik I (Son of the Wise). Menelik travelled to Jerusalem to meet his father Solomon, who asked Menelik to stay after his death. Menelik refused and returned home. He took the Ark of the Covenant back home with him, where it still resides today in St Mary’s Church. Ethiopians see their country as God’s chosen country as the ark resides here. Queen Sheba and her son brought the ark to their country. She is the mother of the nation.
The Kingdom of Da’amat’s is thus very important in Ethiopian history because it is where the human race started, where great trade occurred, and where religion flourished. This Kingdom was succeeded by the Empire of Aksumite (100-940 AD), which took Ethiopia to greater heights.
