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Gondar: Ethiopia's Camelot of Castles and Emperors
Description
In the 17th century, Emperor Fasilides broke with his predecessors' Jesuit-influenced policies and built a new capital in the Lake Tana region: Gondar. This episode traces the rise of the Gondarine period, from Fasilides' expulsion of Catholic missionaries to the construction of the iconic Fasil Ghebbi castle complex. We explore the artistic and architectural flowering under Iyasu I, the growing power of the Oromo, and the role of powerful empresses like Mentewab. Along the way, we'll touch on the Gondarine style of painting, the church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its famous angel ceiling, and the gradual decline as regional lords grew more independent. A vivid portrait of an era when Ethiopia turned inward and built a unique imperial culture.