Ethiopia in A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages: The World Through Medieval Eyes by Anthony Bale

At Daunt books in London, when I first picked up -A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages: The World Through Medieval Eyes-, I didn’t expect to be transported at some point  to my homeland Ethiopia—Abyssinia as it was known back then. But, wow, what a fascinating read it turns out to be! Medieval travelers saw Ethiopia as a place of mystery, faith, and incredible history, and I could totally see why.

One of the things that stood out to me was how Ethiopia was often connected to the legend of Prester John, a mythical Christian king whose kingdom was believed to lie somewhere in the East. Imagine the excitement and wonder medieval Europeans must have felt, thinking of Ethiopia as this distant, powerful Christian land, where dragons also  lived hidden away from the rest of the world.
When the returning travellers told tales of my magical homeland, they marvelled at its rock-hewn churches, especially those in Lalibela, which are carved straight into the mountains. Can you picture it? These churches felt magical to the europeans, blending spirituality with nature in a way that was awe-inspiring.

Reading about Ethiopia in the Middle Ages made me realize how connected the world was, even back then. It wasn’t just a far-off, mysterious place; it was part of a global network of trade, pilgrimage, and ideas. Through the eyes of medieval travellers, Ethiopia was a land of wonder, and it sparked the kind of curiosity that still resonates with me today. If you’re intrigued by history and love imagining what the world was like in the past, Ethiopia’s story in this book is one you won’t want to miss!