Ethiopia
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Ethiopia. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
or ÆTHIOPIA, in ancient geography is the country lying to the south of Egypt, and comprehending the modern Nubia, Kordofan, Abyssinia, and other adjacent districts; but its limits were not clearly defined. It was vaguely spoken of in Greek and Roman accounts as the land of the Ichthyophagi or fisheaters, the Macrobii or long-livers, the Troglodytes or dwellers in caves, and of In ancient the Pygmies or dwarf races. times its history was closely connected with that of Egypt, and about the 8th century B. c. it imposed a dynasty on Lower Egypt, and acquired a predominant influence in the valley of the Nile. In sacred history Ethiopia is repeatedly mentioned as a powerful military kingdom (see particularly Isaiah xx: 5). In the 6th century B. C. the Persian Cambyses invaded Ethiopia; but the country maintained its independence till it became tributary to the Romans in the reign of Augustus. Subsequently Ethidesignation of the opia came to be the country now known as Abyssinia, and the Abyssinian monarchs still call themselves rulers of Ethiopia. Language. The Ethiopian language, Underwood & Underwood AN AERIAL VIEW OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE, LONDON, ENGLAND Enc. Vol. 4-p. 52 Keystone View Company International Film Service WINDSOR CASTLE, SUMMER RESIDENCE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND AN ESKIMO. THE HARPOONS HE USES HAVE DETACHABLE HEADS International Film Service Photo, Ewing Galloway SAILING BOATS AT ANCHOR AT THE DISPUTED PORT OF FIUME, ON THE ADRIATIC or more accurately the Geez language, is the old official and ecclesiastical language of Abyssinia, introduced into that kingdom by settlers from south Arabia. In the 14th century is was supplanted as the language of the Christian Church of Abyssinia by the Amharic. It is a Semitic language resembling Aramaic and Hebrew as well as Arabic. It has a Christian literature of some importance. The principal work is a translation of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha, to which are appended some non-canonical writings, such as the "Shepherd of Hermas" and the "Book of Enoch." The language is to some extent represented by the modern dialects of Tigre, and by that spoken by some nomadic tribes of the Sultan.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
e-thi-o'pl-a, among the ancients, a term applied to the southern part of the world inhabited by people of dark complexion. The word is Greek, meaning literally a burnt countenance. In its widest application the name covered those parts of Asia inhabited by the dark-skinned Hindus as well as the Africans. In its modern use the term is applied to that part of Africa which is inhabited by the negro race. In a more limited sense the term is applied to the present region of Nubia and Abyssinia, and, in its lowest limits, Ethiopia was the land of Kush, belonging to Egypt, a country noted for ivory and aromatic spices. 2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: BR 2026-07-22)