At the Dawn of Ethiopian Language Studies: The Role of Giuseppe Sapeto (1811–1895)

Among the Italian scholars who contributed to the early study of the languages of Ethiopia, the figure of Giuseppe Sapeto (1811-1895) stands out. His historical role in the acquisition of the Bay of Assab has been extensively investigated by generations of scholars, however, his unpublished documents, have been largely overlooked. These documents shed light on his linguistic knowledge, and will be examined and re-evaluated systematically within the framework of a PRIN project.