POST WWI MIDDLE EAST HOW THE FALL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE AFFECTED THE REGION’S HISTORY

FALL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE When WWI ended and the Ottoman empire was on the losing Central Powers side, the Allies partitioned the land. Artificial boundaries were placed in- between lands without looking into what religious and ethnic groups were there at the time. When boundaries where placed, ethnic and religious groups were placed together creating conflict

WEREN’T THE ARABS SUPPOSED TO GET THE LAND? Britain had promised Sharif Hussein, Emir of Mecca, the land in the Arabian Peninsula and Mesopotamian region Sharif Hussein was a direct descendant of Muhammad and a practiced Shia Islam. The land was partitioned by the Europeans in secret by the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

SYKES-PICOT AGREEMENT A secret agreement made before WWI ended between Britain, France, and Russia in case the Ottomans lost. Divided up the land: France would get Lebanon (which they would later give to Mennonite Christians) and Syria Britain would get Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq Land was “mandated” or considered a protectorate

BALFOUR DECLARATION 1917 British declare that Palestine should be opened to the Jewish as a home—not necessarily their own state– as long as the Palestinians (Arab’s) land and rights don’t get taken away. Problem: Palestine has been occupied and controlled by Arabs for the past 1000 years. How do you not violate their land and rights?

WASN’T SHARIF HUSSEIN PRETTY MAD? Sykes-Picot became real with the Treaty of Sevres in To placate Sharif Hussein, his son Faisal was installed as King of Iraq and his other son Abdullah was installed as King of eastern Palestine/Transjordan. /history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th- century/v/arabia-after-world-war-i

WHAT HAPPENS POST WWI? Sharif Hussein was controlling the western part of the Arabian Peninsula but he got overthrown by Ibn Saud(with the support of the Wahhabi Sunnis). The British did not help Sharif Hussein so he lost his land and power.. Other nations slowly gained their independence in the 1930’s and post WWII. (Read “Results of the Fall…”)