Ethiopia is known to be the only African country to have successfully resisted colonization and maintained its independence and sovereignty. It is also one of the oldest extant civilizations in the world. Its history, culture, traditions, religion, languages and customs hail from roots dating back to pre‑biblical times. It is an incredible crossroads where the influences of three continents (Africa, Asia and Europe) meet, and where the Middle Eastern and African, and Muslim and Christian cultures combine.