Addis Ababa, which means "New Flower" in Amharic, is an intriguingly indigenous African city. Unlike many other African capitals, it's founding, growth and development, are not rooted in colonization. Founded in 1896 by Emperor Menelik II, Addis Ababa is the last in a succession of capitals of the great Abyssinian empire dating back to the pre-Christian Axum (Brunn & Williams 273). Italian Occupation of Addis Ababa: 1936-1941 For a brief period between 1936 and 1939, the conquering Italians under Mussolini attempted to Europeanize this lively and vibrant city. Because their rule was so short-lived, the Italian influence on the geography and society of Addis Ababa was minimal and never amounted to a full scale colonization. Post War Urbanization in Addis Ababa Growth occurred in three waves following world war II, with the lagest population boom during
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