Cause of our Poverty

The control of the coastal area of Aga’azian for 300 years by Ottoman Turkey had caused extreme economic and cultural isolation from the Western Christian world that was carrying-out an industrial revolution from 18-20 century. There are many evidence that prove living standard of Aga’azian in 11-14 centuries was much better than many European nations. The Ottoman Turkish army forced Aga’azians to retreat to today’s Eritrea’s and Tigray highlands from the coastal areas. The cause of Aga’azian extreme poverty and backwardness was losing our Red Sea coastal areas to Ottoman Turkey and the isolation and cut-off of Aga’azian from international trading system for over 300 years by Turkey.

             Catholic Church and Italian colonization denied us education when we were under them for more than 60 years. But the other main factor that make countries economically competitive is their level of civilization and culture/value system. Our identity, history and value system has been undermined by axis of Amhara and Egyptian Coptic and Muslim, Islamists and Catholics for 800 years. Our Common history and value system give our people strong sense of identity and strong sense of belonging. Strong sense of identity and strong sense of belonging give nations strong common sense of purpose.