Ethiopia was formerly called Abyssinia in many English-language historical accounts.
Abyssinia was a historical name used mainly for the Ethiopian Highlands and, at times, the Ethiopian state. The term is related to the Arabic name al-Habasha, which gave rise to “Abyssinia” in European languages. “Ethiopia,” derived from the Greek Aithiopia, became the country’s standard modern name.
The older name remains common in historical writing, especially in accounts of the Ethiopian Empire and the 1935–1941 Italian occupation. Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, but Ethiopian forces and their allies restored Emperor Haile Selassie to the throne in 1941. Ethiopia is notable for preserving its independence through much of the colonial era, although it was occupied by Italy for several years.
The modern country is landlocked in the Horn of Africa. Its capital is Addis Ababa, while its historic highland centers include Gondar, Axum, and Lalibela. Abyssinia should not be treated as a separate modern country.