Brief History of Eritrea

Important Red Sea trading hub linking Africa, Arabia, and the Mediterranean.

Part of the Aksumite Kingdom, a major regional power from around the 1st–6th centuries CE, with the port of Adulis connecting trade routes.

2. Medieval to Early Modern Period

After Aksum declined, highland Eritrea was loosely controlled by Ethiopian kingdoms.

Coastal areas were influenced by Ottoman and later Egyptian rule.

3. Italian Colonisation (1890–1941)

Italy created the colony of Eritrea in 1890.

Built railways, ports, and modernist architecture—especially in Asmara.

Asmara became one of Africa’s most modern colonial cities.

4. British Administration (1941–1952)

Italy was defeated in World War II.

Britain administered Eritrea while the UN decided its future.

5. Federation with Ethiopia (1952–1962)

Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia by the UN.

Ethiopia gradually dissolved Eritrean autonomy and annexed the territory in 1962.

6. War of Independence (1961–1991)

Eritrean liberation movements fought Ethiopia for 30 years.

The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) captured Asmara in 1991.

Independence was formally confirmed by referendum in 1993.