How did Menilek II expand Ethiopia between 1896 and 1906?

Following the decisive victory at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, Menilek II directed the Solomonic state to expand into territories that had never previously been under its rule. Between 1896 and 1906, this expansion brought the empire to its present-day size, incorporating the highlands, essential river systems, and a buffer of low-lying zones surrounding the state’s central core.12

The resources and revenues extracted from these peripheral regions were instrumental in financing Menilek’s modernization efforts. These funds were used to develop the new capital of Addis Ababa, establish schools and hospitals, and construct vital communication networks. Additionally, Menilek contracted with a French company to build a railway connecting Addis Ababa to Djibouti, which facilitated the export of the country's produce by foreign merchants in partnership with the ruling elites.12