Explain the major causes of peasant rebellions against the Imperial regime and explain the internal and external factors for the decline of the Derg regime.

Part IV: Short answer questions 1. Explain the major causes of peasant rebellions against the Imperial regime. The major causes of peasant rebellions against the Imperial regime included the feudal land tenure system, which subjected peasants to high rents and exploitation by landlords. Heavy and often arbitrary taxation further burdened the peasantry. Additionally, abuse of power by local officials and landlords, coupled with a lack of political representation, fueled discontent. Recurring famines and droughts exacerbated these grievances, as the government's response was often inadequate. 2. Explain the internal and external factors for the decline of the Derg regime. Internal factors for the decline of the Derg regime included severe economic mismanagement through collectivization and state control, leading to widespread poverty and food shortages. The regime's authoritarian rule, marked by human rights abuses like the Red Terror and forced conscription, alienated the population. This also fueled numerous ethnic conflicts and insurgencies across the country. Externally, the end of the Cold War led to the cessation of crucial military and economic aid from the Soviet Union, the Derg's main patron. This significantly weakened the regime's capacity to sustain its military and economy.