How bureaucracy forged Ethiopian Ethnic identities

This text examines the **historical emergence** of specific ethnic identities in Ethiopia by comparing them to the timeline of **global administrative records**. It highlights that while **passport systems** began regulating human movement in Europe during the **14th century**, there is no written evidence of the **Oromo or Galla identities** in Ethiopian chronicles from that same era. The author posits that these social categories only surfaced in the **16th century**, suggesting that such identities are **later historical constructions** rather than ancient fixtures. By contrasting these two periods, the source argues that these groups did not exist as **distinct entities** when modern identification methods first appeared. Ultimately, the passage asserts that these identities were **shaped by subsequent events** and recorded by chroniclers long after the world began formalising personal documentation.