2025/07/18 by tessema, Mengistie Zewdu, Wondemeneh adera ayalew
paper · doi:10.20372/nadre:9456
ABSTRACT<br> trade has long been one of the significant economic activities in the ethiopian region<br> and the Horn of africa. However, some challenges had been hampering the development<br> and prosperity of the trade. thus, the main purpose of this article is to explore factors<br> that affected the development and prosperity of trade in ethiopia between the 14th<br> and the 17th centuries. to carry out this study, both primary and secondary sources are<br> employed. Using thematic analysis, a qualitative research approach, the study attempts<br> to explore the factors that handicapped the development of trade in ethiopia in the<br> period understudy. this study revealed that the underdevelopment of trade during the<br> period was not associated to a single factor. rather factors like negative social attitude<br> toward trade; the state’s limited control over the origin of items of trade; uncertain<br> access to the sea; the shift in the diplomacy of the state and limited diversity in the<br> items of trade; and the absence of currency had contributed for the underdevelopment<br> of trade. thereby, this article argues that the limited growth of trade is associated with<br> multiple factors which were hampering the commercial sector from attaining its utmost<br> level of prosperity.<br>