The kingdom of Kaffa dates back to 1400AD. It once spanned a 100 X 200 square mile area in Ethiopia during the 19th century.
Kaffa was founded in the rainy, forested highland area near the Omo River. When populations migrated south through the Nile River valley, some settled near the Omo River. The first known city was called Shadda, and this city dates back to 1500AD. Kaffa, the capital city of Chonga, was built in 1500AD. Shadda and Bonga are two Kaffan cities that are currently being excavated.
"Kaffa was a Cushite State with a divine kingship and some Coptic Christian overlay." (African Civilization) Cushite State means an ancient country in northeastern Africa in the Nile valley south of Egypt. Some of the neighboring kingdoms were Gera, Jimma-Kakka and Kulo.
Kaffan Civilization dates from 1400AD to 1880AD. The economy was based on a source of slaves, musk, gold, ivory, and spices. It also supplied coffee and honey. Kaffa established a feudal system of leadership based on northern models. Their way of life was similar to life in the Ottoman Empire.
"African Civilizations" (2 April 2000) http://www.etext.org/Politics/World.Systems/papers/wilkinson_david/spatio-temporal_boundaries_african_civilizations
Abir, Mordechai. Ethiopia The Era of the Princes. New York:Frederick A. Praeger, 1968.
Paper By: Eric Holland