WHY IS THE MIDDLE WHY IS THE MIDDLE EAST THE WAY IT IS?EAST THE WAY IT IS?

FOUNDATIONS OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST AFTER MODERN MIDDLE EAST AFTER

WORLD WAR IWORLD WAR I

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN MIDDLE EASTMODERN MIDDLE EAST

GREAT WEALTH (GULF STATES) OR GREAT GREAT WEALTH (GULF STATES) OR GREAT POVERTYPOVERTY

RELIES ON EXPORT OF RESOURCES – Little RELIES ON EXPORT OF RESOURCES – Little manufacturing manufacturing

UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS (DICTATORSHIPS OR ONE-PARTY STATES)(DICTATORSHIPS OR ONE-PARTY STATES)

““FAILED STATES” and “ROGUE STATES”FAILED STATES” and “ROGUE STATES” RISE OF MILITANT ISLAMIC RISE OF MILITANT ISLAMIC

FUNDAMENTALISMFUNDAMENTALISM CONFLICT AND STRIFE – “HOLY HOT SPOTS”CONFLICT AND STRIFE – “HOLY HOT SPOTS” BORDERS ARE GEOMETRIC, NOT NATURALBORDERS ARE GEOMETRIC, NOT NATURAL

MODERN MIDDLE EAST TAKES SHAPE MODERN MIDDLE EAST TAKES SHAPE DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR IDURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR I

WORLD WAR I – DECLINING WORLD WAR I – DECLINING OTTOMAN EMPIRE (“Sick man of OTTOMAN EMPIRE (“Sick man of Europe”) SIDES WITH GERMANYEurope”) SIDES WITH GERMANY

DEFEATS INVASION AT DEFEATS INVASION AT GALLIPOLIGALLIPOLI

MASSACRE OF MASSACRE OF CHRISTIAN ARMENIANSCHRISTIAN ARMENIANS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFiEbJ_2g2s

ARABS REVOLTARABS REVOLT

““LAWRENCE OF LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” – British ARABIA” – British agent, helps organize agent, helps organize Arab tribesArab tribes

BRITISH PROMISE BRITISH PROMISE ARABS ARABS INDEPENDENCEINDEPENDENCE

After the warAfter the war

SYKES-PICOT AGREEMENTSYKES-PICOT AGREEMENT

Just kidding. Just kidding.

British and French divideBritish and French divide

up most Arab lands from up most Arab lands from

Ottoman empire after theOttoman empire after the

war. war.

TREATY OF SEVRES – 1920TREATY OF SEVRES – 1920Allies propose to break up the Ottoman empire. Allies propose to break up the Ottoman empire.

Christian Greece and Armenia get territory, Christian Greece and Armenia get territory,

Kurdistan to be independentKurdistan to be independent..

TREATY OF LAUSANNE - TREATY OF LAUSANNE - 19231923

Oops, jk again!Oops, jk again! Turks under General Turks under General

Ataturk defeat Greece, Ataturk defeat Greece, expel Greeks fromexpel Greeks from

Anatolia, and proclaim Anatolia, and proclaim republic. New treatyrepublic. New treaty

has to be signed has to be signed recognizing Turkish recognizing Turkish republic under Ataturk.republic under Ataturk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-4KKL7AYYA

TURKEY MODERNIZES UNDER TURKEY MODERNIZES UNDER ATATURKATATURK

Ataturk’s laws:Ataturk’s laws: Replaces Arabic alphabet with WesternReplaces Arabic alphabet with Western Bans wearing traditional dress like men’s fez or women’s Bans wearing traditional dress like men’s fez or women’s

headscarvesheadscarves All marriages must be civilAll marriages must be civil Army, schools strengthenedArmy, schools strengthened Manufacturing introducedManufacturing introduced

LEGACY: Today, Turkey REALLY REALLY WANTS to LEGACY: Today, Turkey REALLY REALLY WANTS to join European Union; is only Muslim country allied to join European Union; is only Muslim country allied to Israel.Israel.

PERSIA BECOMES PERSIA BECOMES INDEPENDENT IRANINDEPENDENT IRAN

Iran becomes a Shi’ite nation Iran becomes a Shi’ite nation under the Safavid dynasty, 1521-under the Safavid dynasty, 1521-1722. Shi’ite Islam becomes the 1722. Shi’ite Islam becomes the state religion, with a formal state religion, with a formal hierarchy of clergy.hierarchy of clergy.

In 1906, the weak kings are In 1906, the weak kings are overthrown and a parliament overthrown and a parliament (majlis) established.(majlis) established.

Oil already discovered in Persian Oil already discovered in Persian Gulf.Gulf.

The kingdom is a pawn of Britain The kingdom is a pawn of Britain and Russia through spheres of and Russia through spheres of influence and extraterritoriality.influence and extraterritoriality.

THE SHAHSTHE SHAHS Reza Shah Pahlavi Reza Shah Pahlavi

stages a coup in 1921, stages a coup in 1921, strengthens central strengthens central authority, begins authority, begins modernization, builds modernization, builds railroads.railroads.

Under his son Under his son Mohammed, (right) Iran Mohammed, (right) Iran becomes an ally of the becomes an ally of the U.S. in the Cold War.U.S. in the Cold War.

A NEW COUNTRY – SAUDI A NEW COUNTRY – SAUDI ARABIAARABIA

A powerful Sheik, Saud A powerful Sheik, Saud ibn Abdul-Aziz, unites ibn Abdul-Aziz, unites Bedouin tribes in alliance Bedouin tribes in alliance with strict with strict WahhabiMuslims – the WahhabiMuslims – the Ikhwan.Ikhwan.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is created in 1926.is created in 1926.

Oil discovered in 1930s. Oil discovered in 1930s. US forms alliance during US forms alliance during

World War II.World War II.

NEW COUNTRY CREATED – NEW COUNTRY CREATED – IRAQ – Gertrude Bell’s bordersIRAQ – Gertrude Bell’s borders

““MESSPOT”MESSPOT”

British put Iraq together, British put Iraq together, partly to secure oil near partly to secure oil near Mosul in north.Mosul in north.

Hope to control it with Hope to control it with Indian troopsIndian troops

Lots of revolts and Lots of revolts and problems; British problems; British reportedly gas Kurdish reportedly gas Kurdish villagesvillages

British pull out in 1930, British pull out in 1930, leaving a monarchyleaving a monarchy

PALESTINEPALESTINE

Jewish settlers hoped to establish homeland for their Jewish settlers hoped to establish homeland for their people in Palestine (Zionism). Bought mostly waste people in Palestine (Zionism). Bought mostly waste land from locals under Ottoman law.land from locals under Ottoman law.

By World War I, local Arabs were already beginning By World War I, local Arabs were already beginning to clash with the settlers, who used only their own to clash with the settlers, who used only their own labor.labor.

However, more Arabs were moving in to the territory However, more Arabs were moving in to the territory because the general economy was improving.because the general economy was improving.

BALFOUR DECLARATIONBALFOUR DECLARATION

BRITISH APPEAR TO BRITISH APPEAR TO PROMISE ZIONISTS PROMISE ZIONISTS A FUTURE A FUTURE HOMELAND IN HOMELAND IN PALESTINE AFTER PALESTINE AFTER THE WARTHE WAR

BID TO ENCOURAGE BID TO ENCOURAGE AMERICAN JEWS TO AMERICAN JEWS TO SUPPORT THE WARSUPPORT THE WAR

McMAHON AGREEMENTMcMAHON AGREEMENT

Hoping to get the Hoping to get the Arabs’ support against Arabs’ support against Turks, British officials Turks, British officials appear to promise them appear to promise them Palestine also. Woops!Palestine also. Woops!

"Sir Henry McMahon (1862-1949), British High Commissioner in Cairo, negotiated in 1915-16 with Husain Ibn Ali, the "Sir Henry McMahon (1862-1949), British High Commissioner in Cairo, negotiated in 1915-16 with Husain Ibn Ali, the Sherif of Mecca. The British government promised to support his bid for the restoration of the Caliphate (and leadership in Sherif of Mecca. The British government promised to support his bid for the restoration of the Caliphate (and leadership in the Arab world)...." the Arab world)...."

October 24, 1915.October 24, 1915. I have received your letter of the 29th Shawal, 1333, with much pleasure and your expression of I have received your letter of the 29th Shawal, 1333, with much pleasure and your expression of friendliness and sincerity have given me the greatest satisfaction. friendliness and sincerity have given me the greatest satisfaction.

I regret that you should have received from my last letter the impression that I regarded the question of limits and boundaries I regret that you should have received from my last letter the impression that I regarded the question of limits and boundaries with coldness and hesitation; such was not the case, but it appeared to me that the time had not yet come when that question with coldness and hesitation; such was not the case, but it appeared to me that the time had not yet come when that question could be discussed in a conclusive manner. could be discussed in a conclusive manner.

I have realised, however, from your last letter that you regard this question as one of vital and urgent importance. I I have realised, however, from your last letter that you regard this question as one of vital and urgent importance. I have, therefore, lost no time in informing the Government of Great Britain of the contents of your letter, and it is with have, therefore, lost no time in informing the Government of Great Britain of the contents of your letter, and it is with great pleasure that I communicate to you on their behalf the following statement, which I am confident you will receive great pleasure that I communicate to you on their behalf the following statement, which I am confident you will receive with satisfaction. - with satisfaction. -

The two districts of Mersina and Alexandretta and portions of Syria lying to the west of the districts of Damascus, The two districts of Mersina and Alexandretta and portions of Syria lying to the west of the districts of Damascus, Homs, Hama.and Aleppo cannot be said to be purely Arab, and should be excluded from the limits demanded. With the Homs, Hama.and Aleppo cannot be said to be purely Arab, and should be excluded from the limits demanded. With the above modification, and without prejudice to our existing treaties with Arab chiefs, we accept those limits. above modification, and without prejudice to our existing treaties with Arab chiefs, we accept those limits.

As for those regions lying within those frontiers wherein Great Britain is free to act without detriment to the interests of As for those regions lying within those frontiers wherein Great Britain is free to act without detriment to the interests of her ally, France, I am empowered in the name of the Government of Great Britain to give the following assurances and her ally, France, I am empowered in the name of the Government of Great Britain to give the following assurances and make the following assurances and make the following reply to your letter: make the following assurances and make the following reply to your letter:

(1) Subject to the above modifications, Great Britain is prepared to recognise and support the independence of the (1) Subject to the above modifications, Great Britain is prepared to recognise and support the independence of the Arabs in all the regions within the limits demanded by the Sherif of Mecca. Arabs in all the regions within the limits demanded by the Sherif of Mecca.

(2) Great Britain will guarantee the Holy Places against all external aggression and will recognise their inviolability. (2) Great Britain will guarantee the Holy Places against all external aggression and will recognise their inviolability.

(3) When the situation admits, Great Britain will give to the Arabs her advice and will assist them to establish what (3) When the situation admits, Great Britain will give to the Arabs her advice and will assist them to establish what may appear to be the most suitable forms of government those various territories. may appear to be the most suitable forms of government those various territories.

(4) On the other hand, it is understood that the Arabs have decided to seek the advice and guidance of Great Britain (4) On the other hand, it is understood that the Arabs have decided to seek the advice and guidance of Great Britain only, and that such European advisers and officials as may be required for the formation of a sound form of only, and that such European advisers and officials as may be required for the formation of a sound form of administration will be British. administration will be British.

(5) With regard to the (5) With regard to the vilayetsvilayets of Bagdad and Basra, the Arabs will recognise that the established position and interests of Bagdad and Basra, the Arabs will recognise that the established position and interests of Great Britain necessitate special administrative arrangements in order to secure these territories from foreign of Great Britain necessitate special administrative arrangements in order to secure these territories from foreign aggression to promote the welfare of the local populations and to safeguard our mutual economic interests. I am aggression to promote the welfare of the local populations and to safeguard our mutual economic interests. I am convinced that this declaration will assure you beyond all possible doubt of the sympathy of Great Britain towards the convinced that this declaration will assure you beyond all possible doubt of the sympathy of Great Britain towards the aspirations of her friends the Arabs and will result in a firm and lasting alliance, the immediate results of which will be aspirations of her friends the Arabs and will result in a firm and lasting alliance, the immediate results of which will be the expulsion of the Turks from the Arab countries and the freeing of the Arab peoples from the Turkish yoke, which the expulsion of the Turks from the Arab countries and the freeing of the Arab peoples from the Turkish yoke, which for so many years has pressed heavily upon them. for so many years has pressed heavily upon them.

(Signed): A. HENRY MCMAHON.(Signed): A. HENRY MCMAHON.