Was Ethiopia ever a colonial power? ?
Personally, I highly doubt it. In ancient times Ethiopia harboured many successful civilizations which dominated others in the area, such as the Aksumites – but eventually they declined. In 700 BC the “Ethiopian Empire” controlled all of Egypt surprisingly. The Middle Ages saw limited trading with Europe until emissaries were sent to make contact. Ethiopia was isolated from where the revolutionary technology was developing, and where huge knowledge was being gained. Ethiopia is officially not part of “the known world” in Medieval times, which is where influential ideas and inventions began and progressed. Under these circumstances they didn’t advance as fast as neighbouring nations – most likely reflecting their situation today. During the Renaissance era, Italy purchased a port near the red sea and began a colony in Eritrea. Ethiopia and the Italian company fought bitterly after an invasion, but the Ethiopians held off, signing a provisional treaty of peace in 1896. Ethiopia engaged i
