The Italian colonial adventure began not at Massawa (Massaua in Italian), but in the small village of Assab, much further to the south. Initially, it was intended simply to serve as a coaling station for Italian ships passing through the Red Sea following the opening of the Suez Canal.
This remarkably detailed map once again reflects the almost obsessive attention to detail characteristic of the Royal Italian Army, whose officer corps, including its senior officers, was still overwhelmingly of Piedmontese origin. This background was reflected in a meticulous approach to surveying and cartography, with virtually every geographical feature carefully recorded.
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| Assab territories 1880 Copyright Michele SAVASTA FIORE |
Of particular interest are the three short exploratory expeditions undertaken to gain a better understanding of the surrounding territory. The map even identifies areas inhabited by ostriches and others where white antelopes could be found.
Rubattino's Farm may be regarded as the very first Italian colonial settlement of all.
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