1882-1918 Eritrea
1939-1952









Between the Wars, 1918-1939



In 1921, Massaua was devastated by an earthquake.
In 1922, Mussolini formed a government in Italy and gradually transformed the country's multiparty democracy into a fascist dictatorship. The fascist government emphasized colonial policy; Italian immigration and infrastructure projects continued.

In 1929 the population was estimated at 405,000, mostly negroes of either christian (Coptic) or Muslim faith. There was also a Jewish community (described as of Arab origin), as well as small communities of Parsees and even Buddhists (ethnic Banians and Indians). A number of missionary societies were active in the colony, among them the Lazarists (Cath.) and the Evangeliska Fosterlands Stiftelsen of Stockholm (Prot.).
The native population thrived mostly on a pastoral economy (goats, cattle) and irrigation-based agriculture. The highland, with its more favourable climate, had a higher population density. The Italians experimented with growing coffee and cotton (as these were major import items). Camels played a role in domestic transportation. A potassium mine was operated in Dancalia, the exports of which went to Japan. Various gold mines had been abandoned due to a number of problems.A saline was operated near Massaua, another as Assab, the production of which was exported to India. Trepang was exported to China. Pearl fishing was of some importance, the export volume varying strongly from year to year.
The combined value of exports was on average about double than that of imports; in both, Italy was the dominant trading partner of her colony, accounting for 56-70 % of the total. Major import products were cotton textiles and yarn, metals and machinery, coffee. Major export items included coffee, hides.
The colony was administrated by a governor who was assisted by a CONSIGLIO DI AMMINISTRAZIONE. Elementary schools were administrated by the Catholic and the Swedish mission; Asmara had a technical school and a commercial school.

In 1935, Italian troops from Eritrea and Somalia invaded Ethiopia; in the following year, the conquest was completed. Now, the larger colony of ITALIAN EASTERN AFRICA was formed, of which Eritrea formed a province.






EXTERNAL
FILES 		Articles from Infoplease : Eritrea
History of Eritrea, from Eritrea.net
Links to Eritrean History, from Eritrea.net and from BUBL
Eritrea Index, from ICL
DOCUMENTS Map of Eritrea, from UPenn, African Studies
REFERENCE L.V. Bertarelli, Guida d'Italia del Touring Club Italiano : Possedimenti e Colonie. Isole Egee, Tripolitania, Cirenaica, Eritrea, Somalia. Milano 1929, pp.519-686, in Italian [G]
Article : Eritrea, in : Statesman's Yearbook 1919 pp.1008-1009, 1924 pp.1042-1043, 1925 pp.1050-1051, 1926 pp.1017-1018, 1928 pp.1044-1045, 1929 pp.1028-1029, 1932 pp.1043-1044, 1937 pp.1080-1081 [G]
Article : Eritrea, in : Americana Annual 1927 pp.307-308, 1928 pp.276-277, 1930 pp.285-286, 1931 p.291, 1932 p.255, 1933 p.285, 1934 pp.224-225, 1935 pp.251-252, 1936 p.260, 1937 p.256, 1938 p.250 [G]
Article : Italian East Africa, in : Americana Annual 1938 p.349, 1939 pp.386-388, 1940 p.399 [G]
Article : Eritrea, in : New International Year Book 1919 pp.226-227, 1920 p.211, 1921 pp.212-213, 1923 p.217, 1925 p.220, 1928 p.238, 1930 p[.249-250, 1932 p.263, 1933 p.247, 1934 p.217, 1935 p.221, 1938 p.238, Italian East Africa 1938 pp.355-356, 1939 pp.382-384 [G]
Article : Eritrea, in : Funk & Wagnall's New Standard Encyclopedia Year Book 1932 p.234, 1933 p.188, 1935 p.200, 1936 pp.173-174, Italian East Africa 1937 pp.275-278, 1938 pp.278-280, 1939 pp.304-305 [G]



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2001, last revised on August 27th 2007

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