Post WWI Middle East

1. Post WWI Middle East

2. World War I • Ottomans join Germany in WWI to get Egypt back • British incited Arabian nationalist movements in Arabia—undermined empire • British seized Palestine • Accepted armistice after a costly war

3. World War I • Ottomans lose • British and French had promised a lot of people things • British and French had already carved up the territory • They promised a lot of groups independence for supporting them (T. E. Lawrence) • Only the U.S. kept them from carving up and directly controlling Middle East • Mandates were established

6. Mandates • Since outright annexation was impossible, the British and French were given control of new countries until they ‘grew up’ • No real logic to lines • Lines in the sand • Greeks were given territory in Anatolia to recreate the Byzantine Empire • What would be the impact of this?

7. Palestine • Major Zionist movement going into WWI • Jews wanted own country • Eventually set eyes on Palestine • Once Jewish; now Muslim (90%) • Balfour Declaration (1917) • Promised to establish a secure homeland for Jews in Palestine • Instead, the area became a mandate

8. Modernization of Turkey • Mustafa Kemal • WWI hero • Resigned from the army • Established an elected government • Drove Greeks out of Anatolia • Persuaded British to sign a new treaty

9. Atatürk • In 1923, last sultan fled—empire over—and a Turkish republic was established • Abolished Caliphate 1924 • As president, he had earned nickname: Atatürk—Father Turk

10. President Atatürk • Modernized economy • Five year plan to revive • State control • Abolished old aristocratic titles, e.g. bey

11. President Atatürk • Turkified Islam • Qur’an translated to Turkish • Took power from Islamic clerics and established a secular state • Secular education • Secular courts

12. Atatürk • Abolished gender laws of Islam for Swiss law code • Women granted right to vote 1934 and were guaranteed equal rights • Westernization • Western-style clothing • Forbid the wearing of the fez  • Western-style men’s suits. • Attacked the veiling of women.

13. Iraq • Major unrest and anti-western sentiment • Prevented British from allowing an independent gov’t • Suppression of resistance forces • British put in place Amir Faisal as Constitutional monarch • Descendent of Muhammad • Oil discovered 1927 • Independence granted 1932 • Major British involvement with fragile gov’t

14. After a turbulent 20th Century: • Saddam Hussein becomes president 1979 • Modernization • Secularization • Vision of a unified Arab nation • Fought Iran (Iran-Iraq War) • Over desire for territorial expansion • Iran supported Kurdish rebellions • 10 year war – ended in 1988 • Violent • Gulf War • Thought Kuwait should be part of Iraq