The 20th
Century in Italy
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The Italian Colonies in Africa
Among the numerous and complex problems of the new State emerged
the need to bring uniformity to a territory that was so politically
and economically diverse. The indiscriminate application of
the administrative, judicial and fiscal structures of the old
Piedmont was to create a further divide between Italy's more
economically developed Northern and Central regions and the
structurally weaker Southern region (the Mezzogiorno). A mass
emigration of peasants and the poorest classes to the two Americas
occurred (in the decades spanning the 19-20C the number reached
several million) and the so-called southern question took root.
At the same time, in order to compete with the other European
powers, Italy followed a policy of colonial expansion
in Africa. She occupied Eritrea (1885-96), Somalia (1889-1905),
Libya and the islands of the Aegean (1911-12). A commercial
concession (500 sq miles) centred on Tien-Tsin was obtained
from China in 1902.
In the economic and social areas the period from the taking
of Rome to Italy entering the First World War (1870-1915) was
characterized by general growth in the whole country. This was
undoubtedly favoured by an interlude in international politics
that allowed Italy to put her financial affairs in order and
re-organize her administrative structure. There then followed
the development of certain essential sectors, such as the rail
network and basic industries, often making use of foreign capital.
At the same time, attempts were made to strengthen international
political relations (by joining in the Triple Alliance
with the Germany of Bismark and the Austria of Franz Joseph)
and commercial links, even if it was eventually necessary to
resort to protectionism in order to protect the still fragile
national economy.
While agriculture encountered notable difficulties due to the
fall in prices on foreign markets and the backward conditions
of a large part of the countryside, as well as the scourge of
malaria, industry was a growth area. The textile industry, with
its two main sectors of silk and cotton, as well as the metallurgical
and mechanical industries were favoured by increasing supplies
of electrical energy from the newly built water-powered plants
in the upper Alpine and Apennine valleys.
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