Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia

David H. Shinn served in the American Foreign service for 37 years, many of them dealing with the Horn of Africa. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia from 1996 to 1999. More recently he was teaching at the Elliott School of International Affairs.Thomas P. Ofcansky has held a number of academic and government positions, most recently with the Bureau of Intelligence and Research Africa Division at the U.S. Department of State. He also co-authored the Historical Dictionary of Kenya and the Historical Dictionary of Tanzania.

The authors David H. Shinn and Thomas P. Ofcansky provide the reader with a concise yet scholarly treatment of the history and related subjects germane to the country of Ethiopia. The Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia outlines essential information on a wide array of subjects, including, but not limited to the history, culture, religion, and politics of this African country. In a series of short to medium length essays, the user is presented with a myriad of facts, dates, philosophical, and political observations, which go beyond the normal pedantic coverage that characterizes other historical dictionaries. An outstanding feature of this text is its over 200-page bibliography of sources, which is extremely helpful to academic researchers and students wishing to further their knowledge of the historical nomenclature of Ethiopia and its people. The dictionary also provides maps, chronology tables, and appendixes as well as numerous cross-references following each essay. This work is highly recommended for both college and high school collections looking to enhance their African studies area.