Ethiopia

A country of northeast Africa. A kingdom was established around Aksum in the 1st century A.D. and declined in the 7th century. After a long period of disorder, the area was finally reunited in 1889 by Emperor Menelik II, who greatly expanded Ethiopia by conquest. Italy invaded in 1935 and held the country until 1941. Following the military overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie (ruled 1930-1974), a socialist state was established. The country suffered enormous hardship from war with rebels from the province of Eritrea (which declared independence in 1993) and from famine and drought. Guerrilla forces toppled the government in 1991 and subsequently established a transitional government. Addis Ababa is the capital and the largest city. Population: 76,500,000.