Addis Ababa history is not a very old one. Founded by the Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II, Addis Ababa means 'new flower'. The city was established in 1887. Menelik had found this place as a strong military camp, for the location of the city in the foothills of the Entoto Mountains. Menelik found out that the city actually had a long historical background, as there were signs of human civilizations in the place. There was an incomplete church that stood evidence of the fact that Ethiopians ruled the place in ancient times.
However, history of Addis Ababa is recorded from the regime of Menelik II. Menelik's wife Taytu started some work on a church and that increased the Emperor's interest in the place. Even he planned of building a cathedral at the same place. However, Menelik did not at once plan to set up a city there. There was lack of raw materials in the area that would have hindered the growth of a city in the area. So settlements began in an area in close proximity to the Entoto Mountains, in a valley that lied to the south of the mountains. This event took place in 1886.
The area where the settlements were being established abounded in rich natural splendor. There were hot mineral springs and ample greenery in the
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area.History, Addis Ababa also reveals that Menelik's wife settled in the place along with the members of the Showan Royal Court. The house of Taytu, Menelik's wife, was transformed into the Imperial Palace by the emperor. In was during the reign of this great Ethiopian Emperor that Addis Ababa was made the capital of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa city flourished greatly in the regime of this great king of Ethiopia.
In 1936, Addis Ababa went under the dominance of the Italians during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. Addis Ababa was made the capital of Italian East Africa from 1936-1941. However in 1941, the British managed to defeat the Italians during the East African campaign. In the same year Emperor Haile Selassie made his grand return to Addis Ababa, exactly after five years of his departure of the city. After his return, he immediately began the work of reconstruction and reformation of the city.
With time, Addis Ababa flourished to a great extent and presently, it is one of the most important cities not only in Ethiopia, but also in the entire African continent. There are many important administrative offices and buildings in the city. United Nations has some important international organizations that are based in the capital city of Ethiopia.
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