“The Great Bitterness”

“The Great Bitterness” What does it mean to be bitter?

Objectives (aka what you should be able to do after this presentation) • Trace colonialism in the Middle East • Understand what “Arab” means • Summarize history and significance of the Suez Canal • Understand the background of the Arab-Israeli conflict • Describe Britain’s role in the Persian Gulf and Middle Eastern reactions to its presence.

I. Background A. The Europeans viewed the Middle East as a great source of wealth and a great trade route B. Similar to Africa, colonialism contributed to the tensions that still exist in the Middle East today (although in very different ways than in Africa)

II. Colonialism • Definition- foreign occupation of land with an intent to exploit its resources • Reasons for colonialism in the Middle East • New markets to sell products • Raw materials for industry • Access to trade routes • Key players • Great Britain • France • Russia

III. History of Colonialism in Middle East • Rule by Europeans caused both frustration and humiliation for Arabs • Arabs are people who share ethnic, cultural, and linguistic traits • Name taken from “Arabian Peninsula” region • There are also Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs (Arab is not a religion) • Many fought and died for independence from European rule

IV. Syria and Lebanon Syria was under the control of the Ottoman Empire, who teams up with Germany (US enemy) in WWI Did not like being under Ottoman control Wanted independence Germany and the Ottomans lose WWI France and Great Britain divide up the loser’s territory Syria and Lebanon are given to France Many revolts against European leaders

As a class, read the story on page 604

IV. Syria and Lebanon C. After decades of attempts for independence from France, they were successful in 1946 What happened in the world that helped Syria and Lebanon gain independence? Both countries created democracies that were successful for some time A civil war in Lebanon and a military overthrow of the gov’t in Syria were obstacles

Geographic Question: Look at the world map. If you live in France and you want to trade with China using a ship, how do you get there?

V. The Suez Canal Links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea A French engineer designed it Egyptian men forced to construct it for low wages Took 10 years to build Completed in 1869 Many Egyptian laborers died

B. Britain had become the main user of the Suez Canal, but Egypt wanted control • Britain sent troops that stayed there until 1956 • President Nasser believed foreigners had no right to control Egyptian land • Nasser “nationalized” the canal a. Made it property of the government b. Used profits for Aswan High Dam on the Nile

As a class, read quote at the bottom of page 608

VI. Arab-Israeli Conflict • Both Arabs and Israelis claim they own the land of present-day Israel • Used to be called Palestine • Was controlled by the Ottomans and inhabited by 500,000 Arabs and 50,000 Jews before WWI

B. After WWI when the Ottoman Empire fell, Britain took control • Britain made promises to the Arabs that they would have an independent state, but instead the British occupied the land • After WWII, the Jewish population increased • Palestinian Arabs became angry and violent protests erupted • The UN created 2 states in 1947 a. Palestine (Arab Muslim) b. Israel (Jewish)

C. Palestinians refused to accept Israel as a state and Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and others invaded Israel 1. Israel won, and almost a million Palestinians were forced to leave their homes 2. The bitterness and violence has continued ever since a. suicide bombings b. failed peace talks

VII. The Persian Gulf • Oil was discovered in this area in the early 1900s • Britain and other European nations set up drilling operations • Arabs and Iranians resented other countries becoming wealthy from their oil • Iran was the first country to nationalize their oil resources (page 611) a. Most European powers boycotted Iranian oil Note: Nationalization is when the gov’t takes control of a company

“The Great Bitterness”