Historical Timeline

Timeline of Eritrea

17 dated events spanning the recorded history of Eritrea.

Chronology

17 events spanning the history of Eritrea. BCE/CE dating.

300 – 600
Eritrea part of the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum.
Eritrea part of the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum.
600
Arabs introduce Islam to coastal areas.
Arabs introduce Islam to coastal areas.
1500
Ottoman Empire annexes Eritrea.
Ottoman Empire annexes Eritrea.
1891 – 1941
Eritrea was occupied by the Italians for almost 50 years.
Eritrea was occupied by the Italians for almost 50 years.
1941
The British seized Eritrea from the Italians.
The British seized Eritrea from the Italians.
1949
Britain administers Eritrea as a United Nations trust territory.
Britain administers Eritrea as a United Nations trust territory.
1952
UN decides to make Eritrea a federal component of Ethiopia.
UN decides to make Eritrea a federal component of Ethiopia.
1962
Ethiopia annexes Eritrea, turning it into a province; war of independence begins.
Ethiopia annexes Eritrea, turning it into a province; war of independence begins.
1990
Eritrean People’s Liberation Front captures the Eritrean port of Massawa.
Eritrean People’s Liberation Front captures the Eritrean port of Massawa.
1993
Eritreans almost unanimously vote for independence.
Eritreans almost unanimously vote for independence; Eritrea becomes independent and joins the United Nations.

1995
Eritrean and Yemeni forces clashed over control of the Hanish Islands.
Eritrean and Yemeni forces clashed over control of the Hanish Islands, located just north of the Bab el-Mandeb. Eritrea used its warships to try to seize a disputed island in the mouth of the Red Sea from Yemen. Yemen sent warplanes to counter the attack.
1996
Eritrean and Yemeni forces again clashed over control of the Hanish Islands.
Eritrean and Yemeni forces again clashed over control of the Hanish Islands, located just north of the Bab el-Mandeb.
1998 – 2000
Eritrean-Ethiopian border clashes turn into a full-scale war which kills some 70,000 people.
Eritrean-Ethiopian border clashes turn into a full-scale war which kills some 70,000 people.
1998
International arbitration panel awards the Greater Hanish island to Yemen.
International arbitration panel awards the Greater Hanish island to Yemen and divides other smaller islands between the two countries.
2000
Eritrea, Ethiopia ceasefire and peace agreements envisage troop withdrawals and UN peacekeepers.
Eritrea, Ethiopia ceasefire and peace agreements envisage troop withdrawals and UN peacekeepers.
2003
Boundary commission rules that the disputed border town of Badme lies in Eritrea.
Boundary commission rules that the disputed border town of Badme lies in Eritrea. Ethiopia says the ruling is unacceptable.

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