What was the effect of learning about characters from both the Ethiopian and the Italian sides?

What was the effect of learning about characters from both the Ethiopian and the Italian sides? How do you think the novel would have been different if it were told solely from Hirut's perspective?

The importance of seeing both sides of the Second Ethiopian conflict is that we gain some insight as to why both are fighting. Certainly the Ethiopians seems to have a stronger desire to prevail than the Italians who seem to be unsure as to why they are even there but who appear to be confident they will quash these lesser beings (i.e. Ethiopians) and in their vanity lies a potential for defeat (as we see in Fucilli's ending).

By comparing both Kidane and Fucelli, we get an idea of what drives them. Kidane had faults and fears, but fought for his country. Fucelli was arrogant and a murderer. I had more sympathy for the Ethiopians, especially because of my sympathies for the women involved. The only woman we know from the Italian camp is Fifi, and I don't think she really cared about the cause. I did care about Ettore, but he was somewhat of a puppet to provide photos and propaganda. I think it was good to get some perspective from both sides.

Knowing the reason for what motivates each side of the conflict.
The Ethiopians were defending their homeland, the Italians were trying to colonize Ethiopia. The importance of each is reflected in the determination by those involved in the conflict.

Learning about characters from both sides of the conflict helped me to have a more balanced perspective about the Second Ethiopian Conflict. It is not often that we get to read about a war from the view of both sides. This widening of perspective is important to developing an understanding of any conflict, and I admired the way the author did it here.

I agree with other respondents that learning about the conflict from both sides enlarged the picture of the conflict and provided a deeper understanding of the story.
The fact that the Italian characters, most especially Fucelli are part of Mussolini's rise to power kept me from feeling much more than disgust at his cruelty, his inhumanity, and his desire for personal gain rather than patriotic motivation. Ettore was a surprise because he is typical of the ordinary soldier of any army. He's drafted into a war he doesn't understand and then struggles to survive in any way he can. That, and the surprise of his Jewish heritage and loss of his parents to racial cleansing make him a more sympathetic character than he would have been otherwise.

It filled in the blanks about this historical moment and conflict.
It also reinforced in my mind the historical lesson that people fighting to defend their country and culture and way of life will fight more strenuously than conquerers who may have been dfafted or even paid mercenaries. THE USA forgot that when we got into Indochina or Iraq