Book
Wax & gold: tradition and innovation in Ethiopian culture
University of Chicago Press • Chicago • Published In 1965 • Pages:
By: Levine, Donald Nathan.
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
In this book Levine analyzes traditional and transitional Amhara culture from four different vantages: historical, sociological, anthropological and psychological. Each aspect of traditional culture touched on by the author is considered in light of Ethiopia's transition to a modern state. The problems facing Ethiopia as a developing nation are pointed out and some suggestions are made concerning their solution. Examined in depth are the roles of Amhara peasants, elites, intellectuals, adolescents, clergy and military. The education and socialization process and the political process are examined extensively to determine in what ways traditional patterns conflict with or contribute to the modernization process. In the last two chapters, the author delves into the psychological development of the Amhara personality. More specifically, these last two chapters are concerned with the personality factors which the author considers inhibitive of creative leadership, solidary action and social progress. Field methods included analysis of literary texts and oral traditions, use of questionnaires, projective tests, interviews and participant observation. Levine spent from 1958 to 1961 carrying out field research, serving part of that time as a lecturer in the University College of Addis Ababa.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- History
- Chief executive
- Classes
- Adolescent activities
- Priesthood
- Ethnosociology
- Social relationships and groups
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Amhara
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 1998
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Africa
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Eastern Africa
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Sociologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Helen Gunsher Bornstein ; John Beierle ; 1972
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1958-1961
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 1270-1961
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Ethiopia
- NotesAdditional notes
- Donald N. Levine
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-302)
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 65018340
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Amhara (African people)