Final answer:
Menelik II pursued territorial expansion through diplomatic means, aiming to protect Ethiopia's sovereignty and maintain independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muslim sultanates and empires, including the Ottoman Turks and the Safavids, engaged in territorial expansion for various reasons. However, there were differences between these empires. Menelik II, the Emperor of Ethiopia, was known for his territorial expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
One major difference between Menelik II's territorial expansion and his predecessors was that Menelik II pursued expansion mainly by diplomatic means instead of military conquest. He used treaties, negotiations, and even marriage alliances to secure territories. For example, through the Treaty of Wuchale with Italy, Menelik II gained recognition of Ethiopian independence and expanded his territory.
Furthermore, Menelik II's territorial expansion aimed to protect Ethiopia's sovereignty and maintain its independence. He strategically expanded Ethiopia's borders to establish buffer zones that acted as a defense against European colonial powers seeking to control Africa. Menelik II's expansion also aimed to establish Ethiopia as a regional power and maintain its cultural identity in the face of colonial pressures.