Abstract:
In the south of the Abyssinian kingdom, some Muslim states were, formed during the medieval period.
These states have expanded their territory from the Gulf of Aden as far as the valley of Awash river and
even beyond it. The most important of such states was Ifat on the edge of Shawan highland. Later on,
the kingdom of Adal with its capital at Dakar was emerged. Then the kings of the Solomonic Dynasty,
who took the throne in 1270A.D, worried about the challenges of the Muslim States. Thus, they have
started a series of wars in which the war of Ahmed Gragn was the best example. Although the 16th
century Oromo expansion separated the two rival states, i.e. the Christian highland and the Muslim
State of Adal, the war was continued. According to many documents, the conflicts of these groups were
not political and religious case. Nevertheless, it caused because of the interest for trade and trade
routes of the area. As a result, from the very beginning of its establishment to very recent time Harar
has suffered from the invasions of different people who came from both domestic as well as foreign
countries. Since it is strategically located at very important position, Harar and its people have
experienced good relationship with different people. The relation is specially based on trade activity
that carried out at the two major trade routes i.e. Zaila and Berbara. Many of foreign merchants came
to the above-mentioned trade routes and have traded with Harari people for centuries. Trade and other
economic activities of Harari people have been affected by the invasions of Egypt, Italy and British.
The invasions of these countries coupled with the attack of Menelik II have highly affected the
commercial activities of the Harari people. Prior to the 16th century many Harari people engaged on
different kinds of economic activities as agriculture, handcraft, basketry and others. The economic
income of the Harari people generates from multi types of activities. The cultivation of different crops
like Coffee, Chat, Sorghum, and Banana are the major ones. The commercial activity that conducted in
the town as well as at coastal areas is also another most important means of economic income for the
Harari people. Generally, the long lasting relations of the Harari people with many other peoples were
based on not only trade, but also it was because of religion affairs. Thus, the people of the study area
have experienced to live with many people for many years.
