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Italian Libya | Sutori

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SS
Sidney Smith

Italian Libya

Libya was colonized by the Italians in the beginning years of the 1900's and did not gain independence until early 1951.

The History

The Italians started to colonize Libya in 1910 and in 1912 the Ottoman Sultan signed the country off to the Italians despite a revolt from the Arab people. The Italians had control of the capital city of Tripoli, but two of the other larger cities were home for rebellions. The conquest was also done by brutal force which led to the death of many Libyan people.

Libya was a full colony because the country was completely controlled by the Italians and all cities were joined together as Italian Libya. Italy had full control of government, military, and social aspects of Libya. 150,000 Italians established themselves in Libyan society, making up around 20% of Libya's population. Mussolini sought to fully colonize Libya in 1937 and brought over 30,000 colonizers from Italy. The land was originally signed over from the Ottomans to the Italians in the Treaty of Lausanne after the Italians won in war.

Benefits

Italians fought by the Libyans and expanded their land through other colonization before abandoning it during the second world war. Once becoming independent, Libya charged Italy 5 billion dollars as compensation. Italy and Libya now have a good relationship. Late in the colonization period, Libyans were given more rights and eventually allowed to join the Italian Fascist Party. The Italians developed Libyan infrastructure as well leaving the major cities with well developed buildings and other structures.

Downside

The Italian people were extremely oppressive against the Libyan people, executing and discriminating against many. Only specially designated Libyans could have high rankings in society.  Men and women were killed using chemical warfare and concentration camps along with livestock. In 1911 there was a massacre in Tripoli that used troops from other African countries against them. Not until very late in the colonization were the Libyan people allowed to have a say in how their land was run and controlled.