Education is often more accessible to boys than girls as the traditional Ethiopian society believe that girls are less competent and that education is wasted on them.
Elderly are treated with great respect in a traditional Ethiopian society. Greetings are elaborate and include kissing on cheeks and exchange of other pleasantries. Hands must be washed before meals as most meals are had with hands. Guests are first served and it is customary for the guests to initiate the eating.
The earliest Ethiopian literary works are in Geʿez and are mostly Christian religious writings. Between the 7th and 13th centuries, political instability in the region led to a suppression of the literary scene. In the 13th century, following the establishment of the Solomonid dynasty, the Geʿez literature was revived. The published works produced during this time also had religious themes. Between the 16th and the 18th centuries, Amharic written literature was also published in Ethiopia. Modern, contemporary literary works came to the scene from 19th century onwards. Christian paintings and stone reliefs are the earliest forms of Ethiopian art. Sculpting and wood carving are popular in the lowlands.
