City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Dissertations and Theses City College of New York 2020 The Battle For The Battle of Adwa: Collective Identity and Nation- Building Joseph A. Steward CUNY City College How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/836 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact:
[email protected] The Battle for The Battle of Adwa: Collective Identity and Nation-Building Joseph Steward May 2020 Master’s Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of International Affairs at the City College of New York COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP Thesis Advisor: Professor Nicolas Rush Smith Second Reader: Professor Jean Krasno “I beg your majesty to defend me against everyone as I don’t know what European kings will say about this. Let others know that this region is ours.” - Emperor Menelik II Abstract On March 1st, 1896, an Ethiopian army lead by Emperor Menelik II dealt a shocking defeat to the invading Italian forces in the Battle of Adwa. In victory, Menelik was able to exert his authority over a vast territory which included both the historical, ancient kingdoms of the northern and central parts of Ethiopia, and also the vast, resource-rich territories in the west and south which he had earlier conquered. The egalitarian nature of the victory united the various peoples of Ethiopia against a common enemy, giving Menelik the opportunity to create a new Ethiopian nation.