Secure Da Bag
Veteran
I'm honestly curious on how they pulled that off. What did they have that the rest of Africa didn't have? How could they repel every colonial power for 400 years?
Why wasn't Ethiopia ever colonized?
- Thread starter Secure Da Bag
- Start date
There is a book you need to read ..I have it in my collection and am looking for it now.
Edit: while I'm looking for the book I'll tell you this.
1. While cut off by the Muslims the Portuguese were looking for a christian African king by the name of prester john. At the same time Abyssinia was under attack by the ottomans + somali with guns in tow. The Abyssinians sent for help to christian nations and the Portuguese thought the Abyssinians were the people of prester john.
As a result the Portuguese sent help that included gun tech successfully pushing the invaders out. After this event the Abyssinians had gun powder before others and regularly stocked them, they even had cannons.
2. Abyssinia was an intact kingdom similar to the (ghana / mali / songhai) complex that gained gun powder tech. So they had vast amounts of organized people with gun powder...
The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541-1543 as Narrated by Castanhoso
Edit: while I'm looking for the book I'll tell you this.
1. While cut off by the Muslims the Portuguese were looking for a christian African king by the name of prester john. At the same time Abyssinia was under attack by the ottomans + somali with guns in tow. The Abyssinians sent for help to christian nations and the Portuguese thought the Abyssinians were the people of prester john.
1603 Dutch Map Showing the Kingdom of Prestor John in East Africa
As a result the Portuguese sent help that included gun tech successfully pushing the invaders out. After this event the Abyssinians had gun powder before others and regularly stocked them, they even had cannons.
2. Abyssinia was an intact kingdom similar to the (ghana / mali / songhai) complex that gained gun powder tech. So they had vast amounts of organized people with gun powder...
Even to this day it's the second largest population in africa
Mini conclusion:
Basically my rudimentary anaylisis goes like this...
Mini conclusion:
Basically my rudimentary anaylisis goes like this...
- North Africa had guns but was compromised by both the Arabs and ottomans
- West Africa had guns but was compromised by the Moroccans(with European help) splintering the region in their attempt to take Songhai. People fleeing south and west seeded conflict Europeans feasted on.
- Southern Africa(south Africa) had no guns but social cohesion after Shaka unified people through conquest.
- East Africa(Abyssinia - modern day Ethiopia) is the one place that had social cohesion and gun powder tech.
Last edited:
They faced a very weak European power compared to others. The Italians were an embarrassment when it came to European military power and they haf help from Russians and some others iirc.
Not to lowball Ethiopia history.
Not to lowball Ethiopia history.
Why is that funny sir
They also had geographic advantage and the fact they had Italians as opponents.
The book is below. Essentially the same type of armed colonial expedition that other African peoples encountered later, was brought to the door step of Abyssinia early on by the ottomans and Somali via the Abyssinian–Adal war 1529 -1543.
The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541-1543
as Narrated by Castanhoso
By the time Europeans tried it Abyssinia was already practiced and up on game concerning firearms.
In addition to italy being a minor colonial player on the world stage as @Diasporan Royalty already pointed out
The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541-1543
as Narrated by Castanhoso
By the time Europeans tried it Abyssinia was already practiced and up on game concerning firearms.
In addition to italy being a minor colonial player on the world stage as @Diasporan Royalty already pointed out
Last edited:
Secure Da Bag
Veteran
I thought you were trolling honestly. Do you believe they were able to stay independent because of religious reasons?
Another work you might want to check out for early accounts that give context for where Abyssinia was prior to gunpowder would be by...
Francisco Álvares
In Abyssinia around 1515 - 1526
(right before the war broke out in 1529)
Those 2 books and the 1 before should give you a decent starting point to start thinking about comparing & contrasting Abyssinia with other African political/ethnic groupings at the time.
In Abyssinia around 1515 - 1526
(right before the war broke out in 1529)
Those 2 books and the 1 before should give you a decent starting point to start thinking about comparing & contrasting Abyssinia with other African political/ethnic groupings at the time.
Maybe the ark isn’t religious
Indiana Jones had no religious tiesHave u ever read kebra negast ?
Secure Da Bag
Veteran
Maybe the ark isn’t religious
I have no idea what this means.
Jesus Bhrist
All Star
Interesting responses in this thread, my question would be what other ethnic european groups were actively in africa for the purpose of slavery & colonization
I know about the French, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Belgium, and the British....but i never knew italians were involved as well, but it makes sense that North African Berbers favor italians phenotypically
I know about the French, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Belgium, and the British....but i never knew italians were involved as well, but it makes sense that North African Berbers favor italians phenotypically