Italy's policy towards Yemen 1918-1939, a historical study

Abstract

Research framework and source analysis:

Historical studies have often dealt with topics related to the modern history of Yemen, as it is an important pivotal country at the level of the Arab region or at the international level. With the European powers, with the exception of Britain, of course, such as France, Germany, Italy, and even the Netherlands, because these countries played an important role in the region of the Arabian Peninsula, no less important than the role of Britain or the United States of America.

From this point of view, this study, tagged with Italy’s policy towards Yemen 1918-1939, came to shed light on the Italian activity in Yemen for many years. opponents, both in the coasts of the Red Sea and even in the Arabian Peninsula.

The nature of the study necessitated that it be divided into an introduction, three chapters and a conclusion. The first chapter was devoted to knowing the Italian orientations towards Yemen from 1918 to 1925 and through three sections. Religious missions, such as sending missionaries to Yemeni lands, and economic ones through trade with Yemen, and in the second topic, which focused on Italy’s position on the political conflicts in Yemen, which was the key to the Italians’ direct entry into Yemeni lands by providing aid to Imam Yahya against his local opponents, led by the Idris, who left Obedience to the Imam with the help of Britain. As for the third topic, it was the first cooperation between the Italians and Yemen, where they openly declared their support for Yemen against the British influence, which was seeking to overthrow the rule of Imam Yahya from 1918 until 1925. From any European influence in his country for his fear that destructive ideas will infiltrate the conservative Yemeni society.