Close to the end of the 19th century, the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia remained one of the few country's within the continent of Africa that had not fallen to European colonialism. Compared to the other great powers of Europe, Italy was late in its efforts to colonize, and possessed only the small acquisitions of Eritrea and Somalia. Italy therefore sought to increase its dominance over the region by conquering Ethiopia and creating a land bridge between its two provinces.
Opposing Italy's quest for an African empire was Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II. A shrewd and highly intelligent man, Menelik realized that Ethiopia's continued sovereignty would rely heavily on a strong military, and set about acquiring modern weaponry from around the world.
Diplomatic tension between the two countries continued to grow hostile, until on May 2nd 1889, both Italy and Ethiopia signed the treaty of Wichale, whereby in exchange for peaceful relations, Menelik ceded part of the Ethiopian province of Tigre to the Italians.
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