What motivated menelik ii to hire european experts to modernize ethiopia in the late 1800s

The Scramble for Africa was the motivating factor for Ethiopia to modernize. They took a similar approach to European imperialism as did Japan. Accept modern, western techniques and then create trade treaties with Europe instead of allowing them to conquer your country. Ethiopia was able to remain a sovereign nation with this approach and were left out of European affairs until Italy's invasion in the 1930s. 

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