The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. It has one of the most extensive known histories as an independent nation on the continent. Unique among African countries, Ethiopia maintained independence during the Scramble for Africa, and continued to do so until 1936, when the Italian army invaded the country. British and Ethiopian troops defeated the Italians in 1941, and Ethiopia regained its sovereignty upon the signing of the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement in December 1944. Amharic (አማርኛ) is a Semitic language spoken in Northern Central Ethiopia, where it is the official language. ... The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. ... The Scramble for Africa was the period between the 1880s and the start of World War I, when colonial empires in Africa were acquired faster than anywhere else on the globe. ... The Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region or group of people, such as a nation or a tribe. ...

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: —
Official language	Amharic
Capital	Addis Ababa
President	Girma Wolde-Giorgis
Prime Minister	Meles Zenawi
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 26th 1,127,127 km² 0.7%
Population  -Total  -Density	Ranked 16th 67,673,031 60.0/km²
Independence	December 1944 (from the British) [1] (http://www.civicwebs.com/cwvlib/africa/ethiopia/pankhurst/history_of_northern_ethiopia.htm#7)
Currency	Birr (ETB)
Time zone	UTC +3
National anthem	Whedefit Gesgeshi Woude Henate Ethiopia (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)
Internet TLD	.et
Calling Code	251

History

Main article: History of Ethiopia Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. ...

In 1974, a pro-Soviet Marxist-Leninist military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile Selassie, who had ruled since 1930, and established a one-party socialist state. The ensuing regime suffered several bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problem. It was eventually defeated in 1991 by the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a coalition of rebel forces. In 1993, the Province of Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in an amicable separation following a referendum. In 1994, a constitution was adopted leading to Ethiopia's first multiparty elections in the following year. In May 1998, a dispute over the undemarcated border with Eritrea led to the Ethiopia-Eritrea War that lasted until June 2000. This has hurt the nation's economy but strengthened the ruling coalition. Soviet redirects here. ... Vladimir Lenin in 1920 Leninism is a political and economic theory which builds upon Marxism; it is a branch of Marxism (and it has been the dominant branch of Marxism in the world since the 1920s). ... There are a number of things that junta (hUn-tah) could refer to: It can be a military dictatorship. ... The Derg was the ruling committee of Ethiopia from 1974 until 1987. ... Emperor is also a Norwegian black metal band; see Emperor (band). ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... A drought is an extended period where water availability falls below the statistical requirements for a region. ... Power lines leading to a trash dump hover just overhead in El Carpio, a Nicaraguan refugee camp in Costa Rica Under international law, a refugee is a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her... The Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the ruling political party of Ethiopia. ... National motto: None Official languages Tigrigna, Arabic and English Capital Asmara President Isaias Afewerki Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 96th 121,320 km² Negligible Population  - Total (2002)  - Density Ranked 118th 4,298,269 37/km² Independence  - Limited  - Fully From Ethiopia  May 29, 1991  May 24, 1993 Currency Nakfa Time zone UTC... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Ethiopia-Eritrea Border War took place from May 1998 to June 2000 between Ethiopia and Eritrea. ... June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ...

• See also: Rulers and Heads of State of Ethiopia

The accuracy of this list is disputed, since it was based on worldstatesmen. ...

Politics

The election of Ethiopia's 547-member constituent assembly was held in June 1994. This assembly adopted the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in December 1994. The elections for Ethiopia's first popularly-chosen national parliament and regional legislatures were held in May and June 1995. Most opposition parties chose to boycott these elections, ensuring a landslide victory for the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). International and non-governmental observers concluded that opposition parties would have been able to participate had they chosen to do so. The Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the ruling political party of Ethiopia. ...

The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was installed in August 1995. The first President was Negasso Gidada. The EPRDF-led government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has promoted a policy of ethnic federalism, devolving significant powers to regional, ethnically-based authorities. Ethiopia today has 9 semi-autonomous administrative regions that have the power to raise and spend their own revenues. Under the present government, Ethiopians enjoy greater political participation and freer debate than ever before in their history, although some fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press, are, in practice, somewhat circumscribed. Negasso Gidada (born 1943) was the president of Ethiopia from 1995 until 2001. ... Categories: Africa-related stubs | Rulers of Ethiopia | Ethiopian people ... Freedom of the press (or press freedom) is the guarantee by a government of free public speech often through a state constitution for its citizens, and associations of individuals extended to members of news gathering organizations, and their published reporting. ...

Zenawi's government was re-elected in 2000 in Ethiopia's first multi-party elections. The incumbent President is Girma Wolde-Giorgis. Girma Wolde-Giorgis Lucha (born December 1924) is the President of Ethiopia. ...

Ethiopia remains one of Africa's poorest states: many Ethiopians rely on food aid from abroad. Since 1991, Ethiopia has established warm relations with the United States and western Europe and has sought substantial economic aid from Western countries and World Bank. In 2004, the government began a drive to move more than two million people away from the arid highlands of the east, proposing that these resettlements would reduce food shortages [2]  (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/3640227.stm). The World Food Programme (WFP) is an agency of the United Nations which distributes food commodities to support development projects, to long-term refugees and displaced persons and as emergency food assistance in situations of natural and man-made disasters. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means of financing states. ...

See also:Foreign relations of Ethiopia Ethiopia was relatively isolated from major movements of world politics until the 1895 and 1935 Italian invasions. ...

Regions

Main article: Regions of Ethiopia Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (kililoch; singular - kilil): Afar Amhara Benishangul-Gumaz Gambela Hariai Oromia Somali Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region Tigray Additionally, there are two chartered cities (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi): Addis Ababa Dire Dawa These administrative regions replaced the older system of...

Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (kililoch; singular - kilil):

• Afar,
• Amhara,
• Benishangul-Gumaz,
• Gambela,
• Harari,
• Oromia,
• Somali,
• Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, and
• Tigray.

Additionally, there are two chartered cities (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi): Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Afar is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ... Amhara may refer to: Amhara, an ethnic group of Ethiopia Amhara, an administrative region of Ethiopia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Benishangul-Gumuz is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ... Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ... The Harari Peoples National Regional State is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs ... Somali is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ... Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ... Tigray is the northern-most of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ... Addis Ababa (Amharic new flower) is the capital of Ethiopia. ... Dire Dawa is a city in eastern Ethiopia. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ethiopia Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered on the north and northeast by Eritrea, on the east by Djibouti and Somalia, on the south by Kenya, and on the west and southwest by Sudan. ...

Ethiopia is 1,127,127 km² in size, and is the major portion of the Horn of Africa, which is the eastern-most part of the African landmass. Within Ethiopia is a massive highland complex of mountains and dissected plateaus divided by the Great Rift Valley, which runs generally southwest to northeast and is surrounded by lowlands, steppes, or semidesert. The great diversity of terrain determines wide variations in climate, soils, natural vegetation, and settlement patterns. Elevation and geographic location produce three climatic zones: the cool zone above 2,400 meters where temperatures range from near freezing to 16°C; the temperate zone at elevations of 1,500 to 2,400 meters with temperatures from 16°C to 30°C; and the hot zone below 1,500 meters with both tropical and arid conditions and daytime temperatures ranging from 27°C to 50°C. The normal rainy season is from mid-June to mid-September (longer in the southern highlands) preceded by intermittent showers from February or March; the remainder of year generally dry. (this map shows for instance the Great rift Valley and the old one not) Asebe teferi is the city where Sinafikish is born. ... The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. ... Northern section of the Great Rift Valley. ... The steppe of Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, steppe (from Slavic step) is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally reckoned as being dominated by tall grasses, while short grasses are said...

Ethiopia is an ecologically diverse country. Lake Tana in the north is the source of the Blue Nile. It also has a large number of endemic species, notably the Gelada Baboon and the Ethiopian wolf (or Simien fox). Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. ... The Blue Nile is a river rising from Ethiopia. ... Binomial name Theropithecus gelada (Rüppell, 1835) Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) is a species of Old World monkey, found only in the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea. ... Binomial name Canis simensis Ruppell, 1840 The Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis), also known as the Abyssinian Wolf, Simien Jackal or Simien Fox, is one of the rarest and most endangered of all canids, and is found in the Afro-alpine regions of Ethiopia, about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ethiopia The economy of Ethiopia is based on agriculture, which accounts for half of gross domestic product (GDP), 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment. ...

After the 1974 revolution, the economy of Ethiopia was run as a socialist economy: strong state controls were implemented, and a large part of the economy was transferred to the public sector, including most modern industry and large-scale commercial agriculture, all agricultural land and urban rental property, and all financial institutions. Since mid-1991, the economy has evolved toward a decentralized, market-oriented economy, emphasizing individual initiative, designed to reverse a decade of economic decline. In 1993, gradual privatization of business, industry, banking, agriculture, trade, and commerce was underway. Socialist economics is a term which refers in its descriptive sense to the economic effects of nations with large state sectors where the government directs the kind and nature of production. ... A market economy is a term used to describe an economy where economic decisions, such as pricing of goods and services, are made in a decentralized manner by the economys participants and manifested by trade. ...

Agriculture accounts for approximately 40 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), 80 percent of exports, and 80 percent of the labor force. Many other economic activities depend on agriculture, including marketing, processing, and export of agricultural products. Production is overwhelmingly of a subsistence nature, and a large part of commodity exports are provided by the small agricultural cash-crop sector. Principal crops include coffee, pulses (e.g., beans), oilseeds, cereals, potatoes, sugarcane, and vegetables. Exports are almost entirely agricultural commodities, coffee is the largest foreign exchange earner. Ethiopia's livestock population is believed to be the largest in Africa, and as of 1987 accounted for about 15 percent of the GDP. In economics, the gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of the amount of the economic production of a particular territory in financial capital terms during a specific time period. ... This article discusses the coffee plant; for information on the beverage see coffee (drink). ... The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) defines pulses as annual leguminous crops yielding from one to 12 grains or seeds of variable size, shape and colour within a pod. ... Binomial name Brassica napus Rapeseed (also known as Rape, Oilseed Rape, Rapa, Rapaseed and for some cultivars Canola) known scientifically as Brassica napus, is a bright yellow flowering member of the brassicaceae (also known as the mustard family). ... Cereal crops are mostly grasses cultivated for their edible seeds (actually a fruit called a grain, technically a caryopsis). ... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also: Communications in Ethiopia, Transportation in Ethiopia Telephones - main lines in use: 435,000 (2003) Telephones - mobile cellular phones: 97,800 (2003) Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use domestic: open wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide the national trunk... By mode Railways: total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad), all 1. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Ethiopia Ethiopias population is highly diverse. ...

Ethiopia is home to many different groups of people, the three largest groups being the Oromo, Amhara (whose Amharic language is used for official purposes), and Tigrawot. The Oromo are an African ethnic group (pejoratively termed Galla) found in Ethiopia and to a lesser extent Kenya. ... Amhara may refer to: Amhara, an ethnic group of Ethiopia Amhara, an administrative region of Ethiopia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Amharic (አማርኛ) is a Semitic language spoken in Northern Central Ethiopia, where it is the official language. ... Tigrigna (or ትግሪኛ) is a Semitic language spoken in Eritrea, where it is one of two official languages, and in parts of Ethiopia and Israel. ...

The Axumite Kingdom was one of the first nations to officially adopt Christianity, when St. Frumentius of Tyre converted Ezana of Axum during the fourth century CE. Islam in Ethiopia dates back almost to the founding of the religion; Islamic tradition states that Bilal was from present-day Ethiopia. A small group of Jews, the Beta Israel, lived in Ethiopia for centuries, though most emigrated to Israel in the last decades of the 20th century. There are numerous indigenous African religions in Ethiopia. The Axumite Kingdom, also known as the Aksum Kingdom, was an important trading nation in northeastern Africa, growing from circa the 5th century BC to become an important trading nation by the 1st century AD. It converted to Christianity in 325 or 328 (various sources). ... Frumentius (died c. ... Tyre (native Phoenician Ṣur, Latin Tyrus, Akkadian Ṣurru, Tiberian Hebrew צר Ṣōr, Greek Τύρος Týros, Arabic الصور aṣ-Ṣūr) is an ancient Phoenician city in Lebanon on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about 23 miles, in a direct line, north of Acre, and 20 south of Sidon. ... Ezana of Axum was ruler of the Axumite Kingdom from about 320 to 350 AD. Ezana succeeded his father Ella Amida while still a youth and his mother, Sofya served as regent. ... (3rd century - 4th century - 5th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... The Common Era (CE) is the period beginning with the year 1 onwards. ... Ethiopian Muslims are adherents of the dominant Sunni, or orthodox, branch of Islam. ... Categories: Stub ... The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... The Beta Israel (or House of Israel), known by outsiders by the Ethiopian origin. ... The State of Israel (Hebrew: מדינת ישראל, translit. ... African religions are practiced by African ethnic groups. ...

Languages

Ethopia has many indigenous languages.

Afar is an East Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. ... Amharic (አማርኛ) is a Semitic language spoken in Northern Central Ethiopia, where it is the official language. ... Anfillo is a Northern Omotic language spoken in Western Ethiopia by a few hundred people. ... The Berta language is spoken in Sudan and Ethiopia, and is generally classified as a branch of Nilo-Saharan. ... Bussa (or Muusiye) is a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in the Dirashe region in the South West of Ethiopia. ... Geez language - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Konso (or Komso, Conso) is a East Cushitic language spoken in South West Ethiopia. ... Ongota (also known as Birale/Birayle) is a moribund language of southwest Ethiopia. ... The Oromo language is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic sub-phylum. ... The Rer Bare (or Rerebere, Adona) are a tribe in Ethiopias eastern Ogaden region on the Wabi Shebelle river, near Somalia, who currently speak Somali. ... The Saho language is an East Cushitic language of Eritrea, spoken in the middle of the country, as well as by a small group across the border in Ethiopia. ... Soddo (autonym kəstane Christian; formerly called Aymälläl in Western sources, after a particular dialect of it) is a Gurage language spoken by about 300,000 people in southeastern Ethiopia. ... The Somali language is a member of the Cushitic languages. ... Tigrigna (or ትግሪኛ) is a Semitic language spoken in Eritrea, where it is the official language, and in parts of Ethiopia and Israel. ... The Weyto language is believed to be an extinct language formerly spoken in the Lake Tana region of Ethiopia by a small group of hippopotamus hunters who now speak Amharic. ...

Culture

This leather painting depicts Ethiopian Orthodox priests playing sistra and a drum.

Main article: Culture of Ethiopia Download high resolution version (864x638, 235 KB)This is an image I took myself using an Olympus C8080W digital camera. ... Download high resolution version (864x638, 235 KB)This is an image I took myself using an Olympus C8080W digital camera. ... This Ethiopian icon shows St. ... A sistrum is a musical instrument of the percussion family, chiefly associated with ancient Egypt. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ...

In April 2005, the Axum obelisk, one of Ethiopia's religous and historical treasures, was returned to Ethiopia by Italy [3]  (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4458105.stm). Italian troops seized the obelisk in 1937 and took it to Rome. Italy agreed to return the obelisk in 1947. The Obelisk of Axum is a 1700-year-old, 24-metre (78-foot) tall granite obelisk, weighing over 100 tonnes, carved in or around the 4th century AD by the Axumite Kingdom, an ancient Ethiopian culture. ... The Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ...

• Cuisine of Ethiopia
• Music of Ethiopia
• Islam in Ethiopia
• Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Ethiopian cuisine consists of various vegetable or meat side dishes and entrees, usually a wat or thick stew, served atop injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. ... Ethiopian music is strongly influenced by Muslim forms as well as folk musics from the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia. ... Ethiopian Muslims are adherents of the dominant Sunni, or orthodox, branch of Islam. ... This Ethiopian icon shows St. ...

This Ethiopian icon shows St. ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... This article is about the Christian feast. ... Eid ul-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) is second in the series of Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. ... Battle of Adowa Conflict First Italo-Abyssinian War Date March 1, 1896 Place Adowa, Ethiopia Result Ethiopian victory; end of First Italo-Abyssinian war The Battle of Adowa (also known as Adwa or sometimes by the Italian name Adua) was fought on March 1, 1896 between Ethiopia and Italy near... Muhammad is a common male name for Muslims. ... Mawlid al-Nabi is a celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam. ... This Ethiopian icon shows St. ... Good Friday is a special day celebrated by Christians on the Friday before Easter or Pascha. ... This Ethiopian icon shows St. ... Easter (also called Pascha) is generally accounted the most important holiday of the Christian year, observed March or April each year to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead (after his death by crucifixion; see Good Friday), which Christians believe happened at about this time of year, almost two... The Derg was the ruling committee of Ethiopia from 1974 until 1987. ... This page deals with the annual event. ... In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different feasts known as Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. ... Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: رمضان ) is the ninth month of the Islamic year. ... The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of Ramadan. ...

Miscellaneous topics

• Military of Ethiopia

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has approximately 100,000 personnel, which makes it one of the largest military forces in Africa. ...

External links

• Nazret.com Ethiopian News Portal, Discussion Forum, Web Directory and Blog (http://www.nazret.com).
• University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Ethiopia.html) - Ethiopia page.
• Ethio Networks (http://www.EthioNetworks.com) - Websites in Amharic (Ethiopian official language)
• http://www.ethioindex.com/
• http://tezeta.org/
• http://www.ethiozena.net/
• Addis Tribune (http://www.addistribune.com/) - Newspaper with a weekly online edition.
• Walta Information Center (http://www.waltainfo.com/) - News and information service.
• http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/
• http://www.helmmagazine.com/ Helm Magazine - publication showcasing art, culture, fashion and talent from Ethiopia
• Ethiopundit  (http://ethiopundit.blogspot.com/) - "Eclectic Ethiopian & Ethio-American Commentary"

References

• This article incorporates public domain text from the Library of Congress Country Studies.
• Pankhurst, Dr. Richard. " History of Northern Ethiopia - and the Establishment of the Italian Colony or Eritrea (http://www.civicwebs.com/cwvlib/africa/ethiopia/pankhurst/history_of_northern_ethiopia.htm)." Civic Webs Virtual Library. Accessed on March 25, 2005.
• This article incorporates information from The World Factbook, which is in the public domain.

The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Country Studies are works published by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress ( USA), freely available for use by researchers. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...