Colonization

In the 1800s, just as they were protesting the evils of American slavery, the nations of Europe began dividing the continent of Africa into various colonies. By the turn of the century, the only independent nations in Africa were Liberia in the west, founded by freed American slaves; and Ethiopia, site of Aksum and other great civilizations of later times. In

King Hail Selassie appeared in front of the League of Nations and spoke of Italy's attempts to reconquer Ethiopia.

The Library of Congress.

1890, Italy colonized Eritrea (air-i-TREE-uh), the coastal region where Aksum had been located, though the Ethiopians reclaimed it after defeating the Italians in an 1896 battle.

Colonies changed hands in World War I (1914-1918), but still much of Africa remained under European control. The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini (beh-NEE-toh moo-soh-LEE-nee; 1883-1945) attempted to reconquer Ethiopia and add it to Italian possessions in eastern Africa. The Italians waged a cruel war against the Ethiopians in the 1930s, sending modern fighter planes against soldiers armed with nineteenth-century flintlock rifles. Again, it was a case of superior technology winning over less advanced versions, but the moral high ground belonged to the Ethiopians. King Haile Selassie (HIGH-lee seh-LAH-see; 1892-1975) made a compelling speech before the League of Nations, an organization formed after World War I in order to prevent future wars. Its failure to help Ethiopia provided clear evidence of the League's weaknesses and paved the way for World War II (1939-1945).