AQA · A-Level · History

    Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017

    Italian foreign policies: the Triple Alliance; colonial ambitions in…

    Full specification wording

    2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945 – 1926 The Crisis of Liberal Italy, c1900–1915: Italian foreign policies: the Triple Alliance; colonial ambitions in Abyssinia and Libya; Italy’s decision to enter the war in 1915

    Liberal Italy's foreign policy sought 'Great Power' status but often revealed underlying weaknesses.

    Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 4 of 4
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Liberal Italy's foreign policy sought 'Great Power' status but often revealed underlying weaknesses. Despite joining the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1882, Italy's relationship with Austria remained strained over unredeemed lands (terre irredente). Colonial ambitions yielded mixed results: the disastrous defeat at Adowa in Abyssinia (1896) humiliated the nation, whereas the invasion of Libya (1911) succeeded but strengthened domestic nationalism. When the First World War began, Italy initially declared neutrality. However, lured by the secret Treaty of London (1915), which promised significant territorial gains, Italy abandoned the Triple Alliance and entered the war on the side of the Entente.

    What earns the marks

    • Analyse the strategic reasons for Italy joining the Triple Alliance and the inherent tensions regarding Austrian-held Italian territories.
    • Evaluate the domestic and international impact of the 1896 defeat at Adowa in Abyssinia on Italy's great power ambitions.
    • Assess the motivations for the 1911 Libyan War and its role in destabilising Giolitti's domestic political balance by emboldening nationalists.
    • Explain the diplomatic manoeuvring and domestic pressures (the interventionist crisis) that led to the signing of the Treaty of London and entry into the First World War in 1915.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Stating Italy fought alongside the Triple Alliance in 1915.

      Put it right: Clarify that Italy declared neutrality in 1914 and joined the Entente against Austria-Hungary in 1915.

    • Confusing the outcomes of the Abyssinian and Libyan campaigns.

      Put it right: Abyssinia (1896) was a humiliating defeat, while Libya (1911-12) was a military victory but politically destabilising.

    • Assuming the decision to enter the First World War was universally popular.

      Put it right: Highlight that the majority of parliament and the public opposed intervention, which was pushed through by the King, Salandra, and vocal nationalists.

    Exam tips

    • Connect foreign policy to domestic politics, demonstrating how the Libyan War emboldened nationalists and alienated socialists, fatally undermining Giolitti.
    • Use the concept of 'terre irredente' (unredeemed lands) to explain why the Triple Alliance was fundamentally flawed and unpopular for Italy.
    • When discussing 1915, evaluate the relative importance of diplomatic promises in the Treaty of London versus domestic nationalist pressure in forcing intervention.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the 2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945 – 1926 The Crisis of Liberal Italy, c1900–1915: Italian foreign policies: the Triple Alliance; colonial ambitions in Abyssinia and Libya; Italy’s decision to enter the war in 1915 lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which two European powers were allied with Italy in the Triple Alliance, originally formed in 1882 and renewed in the early 20th century?

    Listen

    Liberal Italy's foreign policy sought 'Great Power' status but often revealed underlying weaknesses. Despite joining the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1882, Italy's relationship with Austria remained strained over unredeemed lands (terre irredente). Colonial ambitions yielded mixed results: the disastrous defeat at Adowa in Abyssinia (1896) humiliated the nation, whereas the invasion of Libya (1911) succeeded but strengthened domestic nationalism. When the First World War began, Italy initially declared neutrality. However, lured by the secret Treaty of London (1915), which promised significant territorial gains, Italy abandoned the Triple Alliance and entered the war on the side of the Entente. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Analyse the strategic reasons for Italy joining the Triple Alliance and the inherent tensions regarding Austrian-held Italian territories. Evaluate the domestic and international impact of the 1896 defeat at Adowa in Abyssinia on Italy's great power ambitions. Assess the motivations for the 1911 Libyan War and its role in destabilising Giolitti's domestic political balance by emboldening nationalists. Explain the diplomatic manoeuvring and domestic pressures (the interventionist crisis) that led to the signing of the Treaty of London and entry into the First World War in 1915. A common slip: Stating Italy fought alongside the Triple Alliance in 1915. Instead, clarify that Italy declared neutrality in 1914 and joined the Entente against Austria-Hungary in 1915. Exam tip: Connect foreign policy to domestic politics, demonstrating how the Libyan War emboldened nationalists and alienated socialists, fatally undermining Giolitti.

    See it

    A flowchart running from top to bottom. The Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary leads to strained relations with Austria over terre irredente. Separately, colonial ambitions branch into two outcomes: Abyssinia, the defeat at Adowa in 1896, and Libya, the invasion of 1911, which leads to nationalists being emboldened. A third line begins with the First World War beginning, leading to Italy declaring neutrality, then to the Treaty of London in 1915, and finally to Italy abandoning the Triple Alliance and entering the war on the side of the Entente.
    It shows Italy's foreign policy path from the Triple Alliance and colonial ventures to neutrality in 1914 and entry into the war on the Entente side in 1915.

    Put the events in order

    Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

    1. 1. Italy entered the war on the side of the Entente
    2. 2. Italy joined the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary
    3. 3. Invasion of Libya succeeded but strengthened domestic nationalism
    4. 4. Disastrous defeat at Adowa in Abyssinia humiliated the nation

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Triple Alliance

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    terre irredente

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Treaty of London

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    interventionist crisis

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Triple Alliance
    The alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary that Italy joined in 1882, though its relationship with Austria remained strained over unredeemed lands.
    terre irredente
    Unredeemed lands held by Austria that strained Italy's relationship with Austria within the Triple Alliance.
    Treaty of London
    The secret treaty of 1915 that promised significant territorial gains and lured Italy to abandon the Triple Alliance and enter the war on the side of the Entente.
    interventionist crisis
    The domestic pressures that, together with diplomatic manoeuvring, led to the signing of the Treaty of London and entry into the First World War in 1915.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart running from top to bottom. The Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary leads to strained relations with Austria over terre irredente. Separately, colonial ambitions branch into two outcomes: Abyssinia, the defeat at Adowa in 1896, and Libya, the invasion of 1911, which leads to nationalists being emboldened. A third line begins with the First World War beginning, leading to Italy declaring neutrality, then to the Treaty of London in 1915, and finally to Italy abandoning the Triple Alliance and entering the war on the side of the Entente.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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