Why wasn't Ethiopia ever colonized?

[DrBanneker]

Pastoralists have been successful conquerors throughout history, usually adopting the culture of the conquered settled people.
If the Maasai adopted Islam the warring clans would have united and annexed everything East of the Rift Valley.
At the height of the Maasai power they threatened to take Mombasa in the mid-1800s just before they were hit by droughts and famine.

True, the one disadvantage the Maasai had though is unlike most pastoralists around the world they didn't have horses or calvary because of the tsetse fly. They would have been hardcore if they had that advantage.

 

[Zime]

It was colonised.

 

[Max B]

It was colonised.

By whom?

 

[Grano-Grano]

By whom?

Us. That included you sxb. The Habar Magaadle

 

[The Singularity]

True, the one disadvantage the Maasai had though is unlike most pastoralists around the world they didn't have horses or calvary because of the tsetse fly. They would have been hardcore if they had that advantage.

Yeah its unfortunate the zebra has proved to be impossible to domesticate to this day.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

I lowkey always feel like Eritrea was technically a moment of colonization. Historically, Ethiopia never seceded territory especially an area that was as important historically as that.

But the question has been answered for the most part. Rugged terrain, arms from Europe, and timely unity is what kept the country mostly sovereign.

 

[Max B]

Us. That included you sxb. The Habar Magaadle

Ahmed gure will forever be a legend.

 

[Secure Da Bag]

But the question has been answered for the most part. Rugged terrain, arms from Europe, and timely unity is what kept the country mostly sovereign.

Just taking that a bit further, is it unity that keeps African countries from shaking free from the yoke of colonialism or is it much more than that? I've always believed it was a lack of infrastructure and the subsequent creation of a welfare state. By welfare state, I mean African countries who are too dependent on foreign aid and industry.

 

[The Singularity]

True, the one disadvantage the Maasai had though is unlike most pastoralists around the world they didn't have horses or calvary because of the tsetse fly. They would have been hardcore if they had that advantage.

BTW the presence of tse-tse fly is very low in Kenya.
Many parts of the Rift-valley are quite favourable for horse-breeding.