Unit 2G.1 - The rise and fall of fascism in Italy, c1911-46
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
A source essay on the popularity of the Abyssinian War () among the Italian people. Useful as an example of how to structure a paper 2 source essay for Edexcel A-level History.
Unit 2G.1 - The rise and fall of fascism in Italy, c1911-46
All documents for this subject (46)
1
review
By: hannahswales36 • 8 months ago
Seller
Follow
lfgarton
Reviews received
Content preview
Olivia
How far could the historian make use of sources 1 and 2 together to
investigate the popularity of the Abyssinian War (1935-1936) among the
Italian people?
On October 3rd 1935, Mussolini launched an attack on Abyssinia,
dreaming of the country serving as a base for a large Italian empire in
Africa that perhaps even stretched to the Atlantic coast. Sources 1 and 2
discuss the opinion of the Italian people regarding Mussolini’s action in
Abyssinia. After reading the sources together, I would say that, because
they are quite different in the overarching messages they convey, they
clearly inform the historian of the perspectives of different strata of
society at the time, making them relatively useful as tools to investigate
the popularity of the Abyssinian war among the Italian people.
Source 1 is an account of Mussolini’s announcement of Italy’s victory in
Abyssinia at the Piazza Venezia in Rome on 5 May 1936, written by
writer and journalist Ugo Ojetti. Source 2 is an extract from Christ
Stopped at Eboli by Carlo Levi, who describes the reaction of a southern
Italian town’s peasants to the Abyssinian war. Both sources focus on the
topic of the popularity, or unpopularity, of the Abyssnian war among the
Italian people, however, I would also highlight the deification of Mussolini
as a motif in source 1 and the north-south divide as a theme in source 2.
Source 1 is distinct in its presentation of Italian attitudes to the war in
Africa as purely positive, glorifying the crowd’s reaction to Mussolini’s
announcement by describing the crowd as filled with ‘burning passion’
and ‘raised spirits’. On the other hand, source 2 concentrates on the
detachment from any jingoistic sentiment roused by the Abyssinian war
felt by peasants in the south due to the north-south divide in Italy. I would
say that the use of sources 1 and 2 could aid the historian somewhat in
investigating the popularity of the Abyssinian war among the Italian
people, as the different themes the sources explore exemplify how they
differ entirely in which sphere of society they represent, meaning the
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller lfgarton. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.10. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
