Merid Wolde Aregay

Merid Wolde Aregay(1934 or 1935–2008) was an Ethiopian historian and a scholar ofEthiopian studies.

Merid Wolde Aregay
Born	1934/1935 Adwa,Tigray province,Ethiopia
Died	31 December 2008 (aged 72–74)
Academic background
Alma mater	University College of Addis Ababa Harvard University University of Chicago School of Oriental and African Studies, London
Thesis	Southern Ethiopia and the Christian Kingdom, 1508–1708(1971)
Academic work
Discipline	African studies history
Sub-discipline	Ethiopian history Ethiopian studies
Institutions	Addis Ababa University

Merid Wolde Aregay was born inAdwain 1927 according to theEthiopian calendar.He earned his BA in 1956 from what was called University College of Addis Ababa, nowAddis Ababa University.From there, he was sent to earn an MA in education fromHarvard University(1957), then aMaster'sin history from theUniversity of Chicago(1959). He completed his doctorate at theSchool of Oriental and African Studiesin London (1971).

He learned a variety of languages, both Ethiopian and foreign: "beside Amharic (Tigriñña,Geʽez,some Oromo) and several European languages beside English (Italian, French, Portuguese) ".With his knowledge of Portuguese, he was the pre-eminent scholar on the history of the Portuguese Catholic influence and interaction in Ethiopian history.

His writings covered a variety of topics, regions, and periods of Ethiopian history. He is also remembered for his positive interactions with his many students, as he spent so much time in his office that it was his "second home".During the time of theDergin Ethiopia, he helped take care ofBahru Zewde,who was imprisoned for five years.