Italian dictator Benito Mussolini wanted a new, expansive Italian Empire, as in an empire that of the ancient Roman Empire with him being the new Julius Caesar. Mussolini's dream empire was supposed to rule over the North Africa and the Mediterranean. Mussolini promised the Italian people that there would be colonized land in Africa for Italy, attempting to match the colonies of France and the United Kingdom. Ethiopia was the first candidate of this goal for many reasons. It would unify the Italian owned Eritrea to the northwest and the Italian Somaliland to the east. It was considered to be weak militarily, but rich in natural resources. It would also avenge a past Italian defeat against Ethiopia, which was the Battle of Adowa which took
