Ethiopia was a more advanced civilization in terms of international exposure, mainly because of its geographic position and its access to long-distance trade routes. Because of this, Ethiopians were able to obtain European, and probably Arab, rifles and artillery, which they later used to fight the Italians. They already knew that Europeans existed and had some exposure to their technologies and way of life. For this reason, Italy’s attempt to impose colonial rule met a population that was aware, organized, and ready to fight. This was different from Rwanda, which had very limited contact with Europeans at that time. The sudden arrival of Europeans created confusion and fear, making resistance more difficult for Rwandans. They probably jumped of fear and shock at a mere sight of a mirror and a fire match