Why didn't the Austrians start their own colonial empire,

>>2146074
They had "internal colonies" they could exploit in much the same way.

Why exploit people on the other side og the globe when you can exploit your neighbours?

>>2146090
Sooner or later they'll seek an empire once they overgrow their shell.

How was the ethnic group hierarchy in Austria and the popualtion

thank God they didn´t

>That South Asia
The British Raj was a mistake

>>2146223
>Give up India but keep Northern Ireland

Because the other European powers wouldn't let us.

>>2146074
No open ocean for them to reliably send ships to colonies and back.

with their only ports on the Adriatic, and the Mediterranean entrances at Gibraltar and the Suez controlled by the British, it really meant that any Austrian colonial efforts are at the full mercy of the British. The Italians had this problem with the Brits blockading Italian ships from crossing the Suez and into Somalia and Eritrea, forcing those colonies to become more or less self-reliant.

or they could have tried to wrestle away the French/British/Italian colonies in north africa, but that wasn't the best idea in the world either.

they did try in the early 1700s with the ostend company. it was going well for a short while but ultimately emperor charles VI gave it to the british in return for them recognizing his daughter maria theresa as his legitimate successor. given his experience in the war of the spanish succession, charles VI was particularly keen on securing a smooth succession for his heir.

>>2146074
No access to sea

>>2146225
Not even Ireland wants that piece of crap, nor does the UK.