Roots of Arab Bitterness

1. Roots of Arab Bitterness Dr. Maggio GLS-220 - Ch. 13

2. Arab Nationalism • Arabic speaking peoples who seek to control their own destinies • Arabs constitute a single national entity, political community, or nation, & should have common government

3. Who is an Arab? • River valley people (Egyptians, Iraqis) • Mountain/hill people (Kurds, Lebanese) • Bedouin peoples? • Speakers of Arabic? • Egyptian Copts • Lebanese Maronite Christians • Jews born in Arab countries?

4. Definitions - Maronites • 4th Century Monk John Maroun - Antioch • Eastern rite Catholic Church • Principal Christian group in Lebanon • President of Lebanon must be Maronite • Assisted Crusaders • Fought Roman rule, Arab rule, Byz OK • Monophysite? They say never been out of communion with Catholic Church

5. Monophysites – “one nature” Gr. • Christ has only one nature – divine • Not two natures – divine and human • Was popular in Byzantine Empire times • In Turkey, Syria, Egypt • Believed His humanity dissolved like a drop of honey into the sea

6. Christians & Arab Nationalists • Christian communities, tribes, protected minorities under Ottoman Empire rule • American universities and American missionaries – role in Arab nationalism • Initially used local language (Arabic) • Translated Bible, Protestant emphasis on reading scripture, literacy, attracted Arab elite • Led to Arabic literary revival • Drive to convert to Chrst’y led Arabs to value heritage even more • “Teachers sow their seed in unknown soil

7. Not Arab Labels • Prior to 20th Century, Arab was a camel raising nomad • Egyptians & Syrians not consider themselves Arabs • Arabia – geographically - is just one part of Islamic world • Turks found it demeaning

8. Arabs had not ruled themselves • First effort at Arab unity 1958 • No self rule by Arabs since Ottoman Turks took over in 1299 • Other than Bedouins • Freedom from taxes, religious freedom • No unified Arab entity since High Caliphate ~ 1100 A.D. • No concept of elections until 20th century

9. Ottoman Rule is Pervasive p. 204 • From the sixteenth to twentieth centuries, almost all Arabs were under Ottoman rule • Landlords, local offcls Turks, not Arabs • Ottoman rule was blamed for Arab backwardness, political ineptitude • If Ottoman rule so repressive, why didn’t the Arabs rebel?.........

10. Wahhabi revolt in Arabia • 1700s • Wanted to purify Islam • Were not looking to create an Arab state • Generally, Arab identity played only a small role in Middle East politics up to the 20th Century

11. What or who is Wahhabi? • 18th conservative Islam reform movement founded by abd-al-Wahhab • Sect or branch of Islam (they are Sunni) • Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Gulf Emirs, East Africa • Doctrine: Uniqueness & Unity of God • Koran and Hadith • Preach against moral decline, political wknss

12. Wahhabi Islam • No: Idolatry • No: Popular culture of saints • No: Shrine and tomb visitation • (vis. Shiites) • Yes: Islamic law, female covering • Role in founding of modern Saudi Arabia -- Abd al-Aziz ibn Saud 1932

13. Young Turks 1908 • First breakthrough for Arab Nationalism • Restored the long-suspended Ottoman constitution • Men choose representatives to an Assembly in Istanbul • Hope for Arab-Turk friendship • Hopes faded, Parliament favored Turks over the Empire’s ethnic, religious, linguistic minorities

14. Turkish regime threatened • By European imperialism • By Balkan nationalism • By Arab distrust, fear for their liberties • Centralizing policies began • Turkish language as official language and language of education • Arabs are now angered

15. World War I comes • Ottomans enter on side of Germany • Wanted Egypt from the Brits • Wanted Caucasus Mtns from Russia • Sultan proclaims jihad against Britain, France, Russia

16. Husayn declares independence • He is Emir of Mecca, Arab leader • Deal with Britain • Lawrence of Arabia advisor • Revolt against Turkish rule • Fighting Turks - Arabia, Palestine, Syria • Turks retreating • British and French promise right of self-determination to Arabs

17. Sykes-Picot Agreement • But, Brits had promised Turkish straits to Russia • Italy and Greece wanted different parts of Turkey (Anatolia) • France wanted Syria, Lebanon, Palestine • Secret Pact 1916

18. Sykes-Picot Agreement provided • French rule in Syria, Iraq • British rule in Iraq • Enclave around Jaffa and Jerusalem – international – holy sites • Arabian desert left • Arabs betrayed • Husayn did know – Communists published the agreement 1917 p. 215

19. Husayn • Later to claimed himself “King of Arabs” • Later claimed to be Caliph of Islam • Offended the British • Brits support Saud (competitor) 1920s

20. Balfour declaration • 1918 war over • But in 1917 Lord Balfour promises a Jewish national home in Palestine • Arab objections • 90% of residents were non-Jewish • What about rights of non-Jewish Palestinians? • Christians and Muslims

21. Conclusion – Arabs awaken • American teachers & missionaries • Revolt of the Young Turks • Betrayals by British, French • Rebellion against Ottomans • Delayed in setting up states & self rule • Palestine to outsiders • Roots of Arab bitterness