1930: Haile Selassie Becomes Emperor of Ethiopia

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• Background Info
• Vocabulary

• On April 2, 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen became Emperor Haile Selassie. Selassie was the last reigning monarch of Ethiopia’s Solomonic Dynasty. The Solomonic Dynasty traces its ancient ancestry to King Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Sheba, biblical figures who may have lived during the 10th century BCE.

   

  Ethiopia is often acknowledged as the only nation in Africa never to have been colonized, and Selassie emerged as a powerful international figure as other African countries sought independence in the 20th century. His long reign and enduring policies (such as support for African unity and the abolition of slavery in Ethiopia) earned him a privileged position at international summits. For instance, Selassie was one of the highest-ranking diplomats at the funeral of U.S. President John Kennedy. 

   

  Selassie’s greatest impact may have been on the island of Jamaica. Jamaican religious leaders adopted a version of his birth name, Tafari (Ras was an official title) and Rastafarians regard Selassie as a god. (Selassie himself remained a Christian throughout his life.)

   

  Selassie may have been more popular abroad than he was in Ethiopia. Under his leadership, Ethiopians endured famine and war, most notably over the region of Eritrea, which achieved independence in 1993. Selassie was overthrown by military leaders in 1974.

• Term	Part of Speech	Definition	Encyclopedic Entry
  abolition	Noun	ending or wiping out of something, usually referring to the ending of slavery.
  abroad	Adverb	in a foreign country.
  acknowledge	Verb	to recognize the truth or existence of something.
  adopt	Verb	to take over or nurture an idea or responsibility as if it were one's own.
  ancestry	Noun	family (genealogical) or historical background.
  biblical	Adjective	having to do with the Bible, the holy book of Christianity.
  Christian	Noun	people and culture focused on the teachings of Jesus and his followers.
  colonize	Verb	to establish control of a foreign land and culture.
  diplomat	Noun	person who negotiates important political and economic agreements, usually for a government.
  dynasty	Noun	series of rulers from one family or group.
  emerge	Verb	to develop or come into view.
  emperor	Noun	ruler of an empire.
  famine	Noun	an extreme shortage of food in one area during a long period of time.
  God	Noun	spiritual deity recognized by a religion as the only supreme being in the universe.
  impact	Noun	meaning or effect.
  independence	Noun	state or situation of being free.
  military	Noun	armed forces.
  monarch	Noun	king or queen.
  privilege	Noun	benefit or special right.
  Rastafarian	Adjective	follower of the Rastafari movement, a Jamaican monotheistic spirituality that worships Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I as an embodiment of God, whom they call Jah.
  reign	Verb	to rule as a monarch.
  slavery	Noun	process and condition of owning another human being or being owned by another human being.
  summit	Noun	meeting or conference of top leaders.