European countries after the Great geographical discoveries sought to subjugate countries and turn them into colonies. Italy, which remained fragmented for a long time, after the unification, to maintain the image of a great power, tried to keep up. Although the Italian colonies were incomparably smaller in area than the English ones, they contributed to the development of the metropolis.
Italy after unification
The complete unification of Italy was completed in 1870. But the unified state was first announced by the all-Italian parliament 10 years earlier. In 1860, Lombardy, Modena, Romagna, Tuscany and Parma united around the Kingdom of Sardinia. In these states, plebiscites were held, and the population spoke in favor of an alliance with Sardinia. After the arrival of Giuseppe Garibaldi in Sicily, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies joined the consolidation of the Italian states. Victor Emmanuel II became King of the Kingdom of Italy in March 1861.
The final completion of the unification of Italy is connected with the campaign of Garibaldito Rome. At that time, the Papal States turned into a stronghold of reaction, the pope resisted the entry of Rome into the united kingdom and its transformation into the capital of the state. Another fragment of Italian lands that remained outside the union is Venice. In September 1870, the troops of the Italian kingdom entered Rome. The following July, Victor Emmanuel II proclaimed the Eternal City the capital of a fully reunited Italy.
Fight for colonies
The young state almost immediately joined the struggle for a place under the sun. It began to fight for the colonies. Italy needed to strengthen its position in the international sphere.
It is conditionally customary to distinguish three stages in the colonial activity of this country.
The first stage - from the beginning of the 80s of the XIX century to the 20s of the XX century. The newly formed centralized state begins to expand. The ruling circles of the kingdom saw in the capture of colonies the root of the solution of many problems: the interests of the domestic economy, the achievement of prestige among European countries, and the reduction of social tension in the country. The slogan of "Mediterranean identity" was taken as the basis for Italy's civilizing mission in the colonies. It was assumed that the Italian colonists would ennoble the Africans, and they would turn into bearers of a common identity.
Second stage - 1922-1943 (Benito Mussolini's regime). During the years of his premiership, Italy's colonial aggression intensified. The seizure of territories turns into the basis of the ideology of the fascist regime, becomes widespreadpractical activities.
Third stage - 1943-1960. The government tried to regain the lost colonies of Italy. In the 19th century, they were a guarantee of recognition of the country as an equal partner of the European community. Now they have become an integral attribute of status and international recognition. But the enslaved peoples aspired to independence. By 1960, the process of decolonization was completed.
Italy's aggressive successes in the first stage
At the first stage, Italy sought to subdue Tunisia. The Italian community already lived there. But Tunisia was subdued in 1881 by France. Then the Italians went to the east of Africa. Capturing two important ports - Assab and Massau, Rome united vast territories under its rule. The first colony of Italy - Eritrea - was formed in 1890 (annexation was carried out in 1885). The subject territory turned into a stronghold for the advance of the Italians to Abyssinia. In 1889, its ruler Menelik II recognized the authority of Italy.
1889 brought another territorial increment - Benazir. The penetration of the colonialists into Somalia began. In 1908, the colony of Somalia was formed from three provinces (Obbiya, Mijurtini and Benadir). Jubaland was added to it in 1925.
In 1911-1912, the Italo-Turkish war broke out. The lands of Tripolitania and Kerenaiki, as well as the Dodecanese Islands, went to Rome. In 1934, the first two provinces formed Libya. The Dodecanese, inhabited by Greeks, remained a disputed territory between Greece and Italy until 1919. According to Sevrestreaty, they remained with Rome (they became known as the Italian Islands). The Treaty of Rapallo in 1922 assigned South Tyrol and Istria to Italy.
Mussolini's activities in the second stage
Activation of Mussolini's aggression occurs by the beginning of the 30s. In 1934 he prepares to take over Abyssinia. Justifying its invasion by the struggle against the slavery that remained in the country, Italy in 1935 turns Ethiopia into a colony. To abolish slavery, the Italian king proclaims two laws (in October 1935 and April 1936). The Abyssinians have been delivered from centuries of slavery.
In 1936, the Italian government forms a new colony state - it became the Italian East Africa as part of Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia. African colonies of Italy joined one state.
In 1939, the eyes of Italians are directed to European Albania. A small country cannot resist the military colossus of Italy and submits to Rome.
The collapse of the Italian colonial empire in the third stage
The defeat of the fascist bloc in World War II, of which Italy was a member, led to the destruction of the colonial power of Rome. In 1943, Mussolini was overthrown as the real leader of the country. The colonies of Italy embark on the path of struggle against the colonialists. In 1947, the Dodecanese Islands were transferred to Greece. Ethiopia achieved independence and annexed Eritrea. Fearing the strengthening of the Communists in Italy, the Anglo-American troops agreed to leave Somalia under the rule of Rome. In 1951 they providedLibyan independence. In 1960, the Italian possession of Somalia expired, and the country received the promised sovereignty. The Italian colonial power has disappeared from the political map of the world, Italy has lost its status as a Mediterranean leader.
List of Italian colonies
In the colonial subordination of Italy were the countries of Africa, territories in Europe and Asia. European lands were conquered by the government of Mussolini and recognized the power of a country like Italy. Former colonies in Europe are the Ionian and Dodecanese Islands, Dalmatia and Corfu, as well as Albania. In Asia, Italy captured the province of Tianjin, now part of the PRC.
It takes much longer to list what colonies Italy owned in Africa. The Italian government united the captured provinces and created larger state associations. Italian North Africa became known as Libya in 1934. It included Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica. Italian East Africa consisted of Ethiopia (called Abyssinia in 1936), Eritrea and Somalia.
