ABSTRACT

Thiswasofveryrecentcreation,havingbeenallacquiredafterthe unificationofltalyin1871.DuringtheScrambleforMricaperiodinthe latenineteenthcentury,ItalyhadgainedEritreaandItalianSomaliland buthadfailedtosecureAbyssinia(Ethiopia).TheItaliandefeatatthe battleofAdowain1896wasoneofthefewdefeatssufferedbyaEuropeanPoweratMricanhandsatthistimeandleftapermanentsenseof humiliationinItaly.TherehadbeenItalianinvestmentin,andeven emigrationto,NorthMricainthenineteenthcentury,butFrancesecured control,exceptinLibya,whichtheItaliansacquiredfromtheOttoman empirein1912.Italyalsofailedtosecurewhatsheregardedasherfair shareofmandatedterritoriesaftertheFirstWorldWar.