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Map of Italian colonization
history
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)
 Print
this Article • About
the Author • Bibliography/Sources
Below is an exclusive map
the EHL has published charting the historic power and influence
of the Italian nation and ethnicity in the last 200 years.
Detailed dates and information are noted aside visual aids
to trace Italy's difficult colonial history in its African
colonies from after its late unification until World War II,
when its empire was abolished by the Allies. It does not show
the power extent of the the Italian Empire at a specific time,
but rather all throughout its colonial history. If you have
any questions, feel free to notify us.
This map does not
include Mussolini's conquests in Europe during World
War II; this is a colonial history map.
Mapping Information &
Extra Notes:
The Italian nation was a
latecomer to both unification and colonial endeavor. Italy
and Germany were two of the last nations of the 19th century
to be unified, though Germany had existed as a unified nation
long before, whereas Italy had not since the Roman period.
In an effort to expand Italian cultural and imperial glory,
infamy, wealth, and power, Italy proceeded to annex the few
regions of the world that had not already been annexed by
superior colonial empires. Belgium, Germany, and Italy were
the last powers to colonize Africa, though the German empire
in Africa was the largest of the three (though incredibly
short-lived, ending after World War I by Allied compulsion).
Italy exerted its authority
over the Somali tribes of the Horn of Africa, in present-day
Somalia. Little resistance ensued against the Italians due
to a lack of unity and technological advancement, though some
rural regions of Somalia had united to resist European conquest
via Jihad. "Somalia" became ultimately divided into
three spheres: French Somaliland (now free as Djibouti), British
Somaliland (Puntland/northwest Somalia), and Italian Somaliland
(south Somalia). After World War II, England would seize Italian
Somaliland from Italy, thus merging the two into the later-independent
and broken ex-state of Somalia.
Italy endured an embarrassing
failure in Africa's Ethiopia (Abyssinia). An Italian war to
conquer Ethiopia -- one of Africa's sole nations prior to
European arrival -- failed miserably, leaving Italy in shame
and Ethiopia as Africa's only nation to never be colonized
during the Scramble for Africa of the 19th century. Italy
did, however, annex northeast Ethiopia (Eritrea) in exchange
for a peace deal. The divisive history has since caused tension
between the two regions (Eritrea succeeded in an independence
war against Ethiopia in 1991). During Mussolini's Fascist
reign, Italy fully conquered Ethiopia in an effort to express
the glory of Fascism (as Mussolini desired) and the Italian
military empire. Italy now ruled Ethiopia and Eritrea. The
former king of Ethiopia, Haile Salassie, was deposed. Salassie
(also called Ras Tafari) was considered God on earth among
Rastafarians (a form of black Messiah-seeking Judaism) because
of the black pride and Ethiopian nationalism Salassie represented
for freedom-fighting blacks in the New World. Eritrea and
Ethiopia merged and became almost immediately independent
following World War II.
Italy's conquest of Libya
was distinct from its other conquests. Libya was unique among
Italy's victims because it existed as a functional emirate
under waning Ottoman Islamic control. By 1911, Italy annexed
Libya (Cyrenaica and Tripoli) from local Islamic Mujahidin
and Turkish soldiers in the brief Italian-Turkish War. Italian
authority over Libya was not universal, and did not fully
reach to the south of modern Libya. When Mussolini ascended
to power (though not in reaction to it), Libyan Islamic warriors
under Umar Mukhtar initiated both a Jihad and Islamic revolution
to expel Italian soldiers from Libya. Mukhtar was an adherent
of a Wahabbi-like sect (similar to the Taliban). The Jihad
failed, and Mussolini not only increased brutality on the
natives, but exerted universal control over Libya down to
the rural tribal areas of the Chadian border. After the war,
the Italian-protected Emir became king of independent Libya
(the first independent nation in Africa). This history of
collaboration with Italians played a role in Umar Qadafi's
hasty expulsion of the king of Libya, and the conversion into
a full Islamic state.
Italy lost all its colonies
by the demand of the Allies by the end of World War II. Italy's
brief WWII conquests of Tunisia from France, Albania by itself,
and Yugoslavia and Greece with the help of the Germans were
also lost; they are not shown on this colonial map.
Regions marked in red
denote full colonial conquest by Italy. Regions marked in
orange (Ethiopia) intimate the
region's difficult and gradual colonial conquest of the region.
Click the below map
for the full-size version! Click on the map to zoom.
If an error has been made,
please notify the EHL Staff.
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
James Mayfield is the owner
and Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I am working
for a doctorate in history, with a specific emphasis on Islamic
and European histories. I am well versed in all world cultures,
ethnicities, religions, languages, politics, and historical
evolution in relation to and against each other.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES
USED:
The image used as the basis
for the map is widely distributed and not protected.
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