Creating the empire

The Istituto Agricolo Coloniale Italiano was established in Florence in 1904 by Professor Gino Bartolommei Gioli, whose aim was to create a study centre that would support Italian colonial policy, contribute to the training of experts on tropical agriculture, and inspire admiration and love for Italy's colonies. The nation's overseas empire was, in the opinion of many intellectuals, greatly neglected both by the Italian population at large and by the industrial leaders, who commonly disregarded the potential and richness of the colonies. The museum formed an essential part of the colonial project, displaying the material aspect of the African territories, presenting their economic potential, addressing the colonies as a place where Italians could invest and stimulating their imperial vocations. This article interrogates the museum and its evolution as an educational tool, from the first decade of the twentieth century to the post-colonial era, focusing on the history of the colonial collection and on how it was exhibited.