ACH WI: Ethopian Australia

Your challenge is have Ethiopia (if it were an empire) colonize Australia and the effects it would have on the world. Also, the POD must be before 1700 CE.
 

Deleted member 67076

A good start would be to have Ethiopia conquer the Ifat Sultanate and get into the Red Sea and Indian ocean trade. Conquering the rest of the Highlands and the Somali states should allow for greater domination and a larger presence in the trade, which will allow for a larger presence in the Indian Ocean.

Eventually, Ethiopian sailors discover Australia and found trading posts, which slowly yet surely become colonies.

Worldwide, this really alters the balance of power in East Africa in Ethiopia's favor. Should Portugal turn out like OTL, she will be a big competitor with Ethiopia.
 
If the Ethiopian colonies remain Coptic Christians would that have encouraged friendlier relations with the Portugese when they arrived? Such colonies would have remained pretty isolated from each other given the nature of Australian geography and the level of transport technology before 1700.
 
How active was the spice route during the time of the Aksum Empire? If it was active how far into the Indonesian Islands did it go? IF it went far enough in they could conceivably discover it if they got blown off course in a storm. I have no idea how or why they would would stay.
 
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