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Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia
In the 1190s the Ethiopian Zagwe dynasty (c. 1137–1270) was at its height, with rulers like Lalibela carving rock-hewn churches in Lasta that fused C…
Timeline
- 1190–1195Lalibela · EthiopiaThe king of Lalibela ordered eleven monolithic rock-hewn churches carved from basalt, including the famous Church of Saint George, conceived as a 'New Jerusalem', which became a pilgrimage center of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
- 1195–1199Ethiopian Highlands · EthiopiaThe Zagwe dynasty maintained the structure of church and secular power, spread Ge'ez-language scripture and religious literature through monastic networks, and kept liturgical contact with the Coptic Church of Egypt, consolidating Christianity's position in the Horn of Africa.
Sources
- Zagwe dynasty https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zagwe-dynasty
- Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/18/