This thesis basically explored the historical development of trade and market in Basso Liban Warada (District) tof 991. Basso Liban Wiiriida was known as a nucleus of trade particularly during nineteenth century. The intermingled people who lived in the study area had played an active role in the trading transaction of the market of Basso.However, this historical reality has not been well studied in detailed. Thus the objective of this thesis mainly tried to show the real aspects of the district of Basso Liban trade and market transaction with other regions. The study also examined the development of trade and market in Basso, its trade partners in the nineteenth century, the commercial items and medium of exchange.In addition the study tried to identify the role of local chiefs and rulers in the trading transaction in Basso market and its declines since the last two decades of the nineteenth century to the first decade of the 201h century. Bassically, to conduct this thesis, available primary and secondary sources were used. Beside to this, different official sources which reflected on the study area and Oral information had helped to carry out this study. The trade and marketing activities of Basso Libdn Warada was flourished in connection with the foundation of organized states in the beginning of the medieval period in the history of Gojjam. The development of trade also brought the emergence of towns as had seen in the market of Basso and the foundation of the town of Yajjube. Besides, the expansion of Christianity in the study area contributed a lot for the further expansion of trade and market. The trading center of Basso had a closer linkage with the trading line of the southern and the northern parts of Ethiopia in the nineteenth century. This trading connection brought a lot of advantage for Gojjame rulers for collecting of taxes from merchants in the market of Basso. The market of Basso was also linked to the outside world through the port of Massawa and Manama from the trading centers of Gondar which brought socio- cultural exchange through trade relation. Moreover, the study also investigated the trade items that brought to the market of Basso from different direction and the medium of exchange for market transaction. The thesis revealed on the issue of slavery and slave trade in the market of Basso and its partners in the nineteenth century. It also dealt the ways of acquisition of slave raiders and their price through different times as well as the declines of trade in the market of Basso. In addition, the research also examined the abolition of slave trade in the first three decade of the twenty century. Lastly, the thesis also assessed trade and marketing activities since the post Liberation by relating historical event of the study area with the Imperial regime and the period of Darg. Under the Imperial period market based economy system which focused on subjects. On the other hand in the reign of Darg also suppressed the freedom of trade and market activities rather it promoted socialization of production and distribution process was highly emphasized as different sources suggested.

A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN HISTORY