Scramble for Africa: Ethiopia

[oliver_eazy]

In history class we are learning about modern imperialism and the colonisation of Africa after the Berlin Conference of 1885.
The only African countries that remained independant were Liberia and Ethiopia (then known as Abyssinia) Neither I or my teacher knew why Ethiopia wasn't colonised, so I'm asking it to the filefront forum.
Maybe you can redirect me to a site?

[MrFancypants]

According to wikipedia they fought off any potential colonists.

[Afterburner]

Yeah, basically Ethiopia was one of the few nations strong enough to fight off European advances. They were a large, unified country with a rich history and strong military. Most of Africa was composed of tribal groups along with some kingdoms in a few places. Ethiopia was on a different level though, their history goes back well into the ancient world as a unified country.

[Anlushac11]

When Europe was scrambling to seize Africa Italy seized the area which became known as Eritrea.

Italy and Ethiopia sparred back and forth til Ethiopia won the Battle of Adwa in 1896 and with the signing of a treaty kept them from being taken over.

The Italians invaded again about 1933 but had much more modern equipment this time than Ethiopia.

[oliver_eazy]

The Ethiopians did defend themselves succesfully against the Italians, but why didn't the other countries like England conquer them instead?

@ anlushac:
That was 1935

[Afterburner]

Not even the world power that Britain was could expand everywhere. I don't think anyone else was really in a position to be fighting both the Ethiopians themselves and the Italians, who were trying to take Ethiopia.

[Rich19]

Britain was a world power mainly due to it's powerful navy at the time - the government gained a greater return on it's investment in sailors than soldiers. The land army was very small.

[oliver_eazy]

Originally Posted by Afterburner

Not even the world power that Britain was could expand everywhere. I don't think anyone else was really in a position to be fighting both the Ethiopians themselves and the Italians, who were trying to take Ethiopia.

Do you mean that if any other countries tried to take Ethiopia they would be at war with Italy to?

[Rich19]

Originally Posted by oliver_eazy

Do you mean that if any other countries tried to take Ethiopia they would be at war with Italy to?

Italy probably wouldn't be best pleased if another country grabbed Ethiopia from under their noses.

[Destroyer25]

The reasons Great Britain didn't take Ethiopia were:

1. They didn't want to have to fight Italy just to get possession of more land in Africa.
2. Ethiopia wasn't as valuable as some of Britain's other African colonies.
3. England lacked the military strength to take and occupy it.

Of course Italy annexed Ethiopia in the 30s but then they had tanks and chemical weapons, ofc Italy was always the weakest country in Europe and that's why they didn't just walk in. If i recall there was some stubborn resistance.