A survey of representative land charters of the Ethiopian Empire (1314-1868) and related marginal notes in manuscripts in the British Library, the Royal Library and the university libraries of Cambridge and Manchester
The aim of this study is to compile and analyse information about ownership, sales and disputes of land in Ethiopia between 1314 and 1868 on the basis of documents which are preserved in the marginalia of Ethiopic manuscripts in the Collections of the British Library, the Royal Library at Windsor Castle and the University Libraries of Cambridge and Manchester. While the specifically royal charters were drawn up in some cases as far back as the early fourteenth century, numerous other documents dealing with sales and disputes of land were written between 1700 and 1868. In that year, these manuscripts were looted by members of the Napier Expedition after the citadel of Emperor Tewodros II fell into their hands and were subsequently brought to the United Kingdom. While almost all the royal charters were written in Ge'ez, the rest of the documents dealing with personal bequests or gifts, sales and disputes of land were written in Amharic and thus, apart from their historical significance, they are al.so important as they illustrate the development of modern Amharic. Out of some 2,100 documents which are preserved in the marginalia of 49 manuscripts, I have here selected 274 and it is hoped that they will serve
Gebre-Meskel, Haddis
History
A survey of representative land charters of the Ethiopian Empire (1314-1868) and related marginal notes in manuscripts in the British Library, the Royal Library and the university libraries of Cambridge and Manchester. The aim of this study is to compile and analyse information about ownership, sales and disputes of land in Ethiopia between 1314 and 1868 on the basis of documents which are preserved in the marginalia of Ethiopic manuscripts in the Collections of the British Library, the Royal Library at Windsor Castle and the University Libraries of Cambridge and Manchester. While the specifically royal charters were drawn up in some cases as far back as the early fourteenth century, numerous other documents dealing with sales and disputes of land were written between 1700 and 1868. In that year, these manuscripts were looted by members of the Napier Expedition after the citadel of Emperor Tewodros II fell into their hands and were subsequently brought to the United Kingdom. While almost all the royal charters were written in Ge'ez, the rest of the documents dealing with personal bequests or gifts, sales and disputes of land were written in Amharic and thus, apart from their historical significance, they are al.so important as they illustrate the development of modern Amharic. Out of some 2,100 documents which are preserved in the marginalia of 49 manuscripts, I have here selected 274 and it is hoped that they will serve
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