The Cartographic Lives of the Italian Fascist Empire

This chapter examines the pervasive and obsessive circulation of maps during the Italian Fascist Empire, particularly in contexts beyond traditional surveys and expeditions. While Italy’s first attempts at colonization began after its unification in 1861, it was under Mussolini's regime (1922–1943) that a more coherent imperial order was established, shaping cultural, political, economic, and social life. During this period, the relationship between geography and power became more pronounced, with the Fascist state using maps as key tools of empire-building. These maps were not merely geographic representations but were woven into the fabric of everyday life, serving as instruments of propaganda. The chapter argues that the widespread and repetitive circulation of these maps, often in subtle or unconscious ways, played a crucial role in both imagining and enacting the empire. By engaging with the sensory and embodied experiences associated with various forms of mapping—whether physical maps, map-like objects, or everyday interactions with cartographic representations—the author highlights how these tools of imperialism were integrated into daily routines, shaping perceptions and political realities. Ultimately, this study seeks to reveal how cartographic practices during Fascist rule helped sustain imperial power, acting as both vehicles for ideological control and sites of potential resistance..