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Formation of an Independent Italy
Known as the "Risorgimento" which was the process of unifying all the states on the Italian Peninsula into the Kingdom of Italy. It was largely led by the Kingdom of Sardinia under the House of Savoy. A Map of Italy in 1860, the year before it was unified. This image is fitting because it shows what Italy looked like before it was unified, showing the disorganization of the states on the Italian peninsula. -
Papal States taken over by the new nation of Italy
The Papal States was fully annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in 1870. This resulted in the complete unification of the Kingdom of Italy. Rome was declared the capital of the new Italian nation. Image of a map of the Papal States and when they were annexed. A good visual since it shows when Italy annexed the Papal States. The Orange represents what territory Italy annexed in 1860, and and Yellow represents what Italy annexed in 1870, which was the remainder of the Papal States. -
Failure of the First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa
The Battle during the First Italo-Ethiopian war which Ethiopia won, crushing Italy in 1896. The Battle of Adwa secured Ethiopian victory in the war and established their independence. This image is an illustration of the war between the Ethopians and the Italians. This is a good visual because it's a traditional Ethiopian illustration of the horrors they witnessed when the Italians were attempting to invade. This shows their perspective on the conflict and their perspective on the Italians. -
Italy invades and takes over Libya
Italians invaded Libya, which was part of the Ottoman Empire in 1911. This started the Italo-Turkish War. This war resulted in the establishment of Italian Tripolitania and Italian Cyrenaica, later unified in the colony of Italian Libya. This image is fitting for this event because it depicts Italian soldiers fighting Turkish soldiers, and defeating them, signified by the Italian soldier in the middle raising the flag over the Turkish Soldier on the ground. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
Mussolini becomes a socialist after becoming the editor for the Italian Socialist newspaper, "Avanti!" in 1912. The image fits this event because it is a picture of an Avanti! newspaper back from the time when Mussolini began editing for the Socialist Newspaper. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW1
Mussolini was kicked out of the Italian Socialist Party due to his pro-war stance on World War 1. Mussolini believed World War 1 was a time for Italy to make itself known and become a world power. The image for this event is fitting because it is a stock image of a guy getting kicked out of a place by another man. In the context of this event, it represents the Socialists kicking Mussolini out of the party for his pro-war ideas. -
Treaty of London
The Treaty of London was the secret treaty between the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, Russia) and Italy which brought Italy on the side of the entente in World War 1. This treaty also promised Italy a lot of territory given to them if the Entente won the war. The image fits this event because it is a map of Italy and all the territories the Entente promised it. This includes territory in Austria, the Balkans, and extended territory in Libya. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso
The beginning of Biennio Rosso (The Two Red Years). Started in 1919 and ended in 1920. This event occurred after the end of World War 1, which left Italy in an economic crisis with high unemployment and political instability. This period saw massive increases in membership in the Italian Socialist and Communist groups. The image for is fitting for this event because it is a picture from the time of an Italian communist group, signified by the Hammer and Sickle Emblem on the pedestal. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
Mussolini's Fascio di Combattimento was formed in Milan in 1919 by him and his supporters after World War 1. This is an ultra-nationalistic group which was meant to appeal to war veterans from the entire political spectrum. The image is fitting for this event because it is the logo for Mussolini's Fascio di Combattimento. -
D'Annunzio takes Fiume
Italian Nationalist Poet D'Annunzio marches on the town of Fiume and takes it. This was done to protest the mutilated victory from World War 1 the Italians grieved over. The image fits this event because it was taken in Fiume, and there are soldiers. One is holding a flag, as if they are getting ready to take over the town for Italy. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
Mussolini teams up with Giolitti to create the National Bloc Electoral List. This list was created to block the influence of the Italian Socialist Party. This image fits the event because it is a picture taken at the time with Mussolini in the Government, which relates to this event because of how political it was. -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
Emblem of the PNF. This is fitting because it shows the symbol of his party. The PNF was the Fascist Party that Mussolini formed to spread fascism and gain power and influence in Italy. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
Picture of Benito and the Blackshirts during the event is very fitting as it shows what was happening. March on Rome was an organized demonstration of his power and it allowed him to become appointed Prime Minister of Italy by the King Victor Emmanuel III. -
Acerbo Law passed
This is a picture of Giacomo Acerbo which is very fitting as he was the man who drafted the Acerbo law. Acerbo Law gave Mussolini's fascist party a significant advantage in elections. It essentially stated that the party that received the most votes (25% at least) got 2/3 seats in parliament. -
Corfu Incident
This picture of soldiers at the Corfu port is very fitting as it shows what the incident looks like and helps visualize what was happening. Conflict between Italy and Greece after Italian General Enrico Tellini was killed on Greece soil. This caused fighting and Italy bombarded Corfu. -
Matteotti Crisis
This picture shows the man who was murdered, Giacomo Matteotti, and this is very fitting as he is who was at the center of the crisis and exposed Mussolini's violence. Matteotti was killed and this caused people to criticize fascism and also showed how far Mussolini would go to silence his oppositions. -
Aventine Secession
This is a picture of the Italian Communist Party flag as they were one of the parties that withdrew from parliament after Matteotti was murdered which is what happened in the Aventine Secession. -
Battle for Grain
The picture is fitting as it is a picture that Mussolini put out as propaganda for the Battle for Grain. It was a policy that Mussolini implemented to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production and not depend on imports. -
Locarno Treaty signed
The picture connects to the Locarno Treaty being signed as the people involved are in the picture negotiating the treaty. Treaty aimed to maintain peace in western E.U. focused on borders of Germany, Italy, and Belgium. -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
This is a picture of the Lira coin which is the center of the Battle for the Lira conflict. It was an economic policy with the goal of raising the value of the lira and boost Italy's image as a great power. -
Battle for Births
This is a picture of babies and women because Battle for Births wanted more births of babies in Italy by women to increase population. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty
The Kellogg-Briand Treaty being signed Also known as the Pact of Paris, it was an international agreement in which signatory states, including Italy, renounced war as a means of resolving disputes and committed to peaceful diplomacy. It was largely symbolic and lacked enforcement mechanisms. -
Lateran Treaty with the Pope
The Lateran Treaty being signed. An agreement between Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy and the Vatican, which recognized Vatican City as an independent state and resolved the "Roman Question." It granted the Catholic Church financial compensation and special status in Italy. -
Stresa Front
Picture of the agreement A short-lived agreement between Italy, Britain, and France to oppose Hitler's violation of the Treaty of Versailles, particularly his rearmament of Germany. It collapsed soon after due to Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia. -
Italian Involvement with the Spanish Civil War
Political poster about the Italian involvement Italy supported Francisco Franco’s Nationalist forces with troops, aircraft, and weapons during the Spanish Civil War, aiming to spread fascism and strengthen ties with Germany. -
The Abyssinian Crisis
Painting of the war A conflict resulting from Italy's invasion of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). It exposed the weakness of the League of Nations, which imposed limited sanctions on Italy that failed to stop the aggression or deter future expansionism. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty Signed
Mussolini and Hitler meeting to sign treaty An agreement forming a political and military alliance between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, solidifying their cooperation and paving the way for further alignment during WWII. -
Munich Conference
Picture of the different forces making the agreement A meeting between Germany, Italy, Britain, and France where they allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. Mussolini acted as a mediator, but Italy largely supported Hitler’s demands. -
Italy Invades Albania
newspaper clipping from the attack Italy invaded and annexed Albania under Mussolini’s orders in an effort to expand its influence in the Balkans and demonstrate its imperial ambitions. -
Italy Enters WW2 on the Side of Germany
Picture showing the axis alliance Italy officially joined WWII on June 10, 1940, siding with Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers, declaring war on France and Britain, seeking territorial expansion. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WW II
Newspaper clipping from the event On July 25, 1943, Benito Mussolini was removed from power by the Grand Council of Fascism in Italy. King Victor Emmanuel III had him arrested after a vote of no confidence, following the Allied invasion of Sicily and widespread dissatisfaction with Mussolini’s leadership. -
Mussolini Killed
Mussolini killed by Walter Audisio and put on display On April 28, 1945, Benito Mussolini was captured and executed by Italian partisans near Lake Como while attempting to flee to Switzerland. His body was later hung in Milan, symbolizing the collapse of Fascist rule in Italy.