Hiob Ludolf

 Ludolf, Hiob, 1624-1704.

A new history of Ethiopia : being a full and accurate description of the kingdom of Abessinia, vulgarly, though erroneously, called the Empire of Prester John ... -- 2nd ed. / to which is added, a new and exact map of the country ... . London : S. Smith, 1684.

Like many early European works on Africa, this work is largely a collection of information collected and edited by Ludolph. He criticizes those "who to wast their idle hours, and designing some fabulous inventions, or to represent the platform of some imaginary common-wealth, have chosen Ethiopia for the subject of their discourse." In addition to a history and description of the region, Rudolph has also included alphabets, vocabularies, and genealogies. Not surprising in the charged religious climate of the day, particular attention is given to the history of the Christian Church in Ethiopia.