20th Century History of the Middle East

OTTOMAN EMPIRE Islamic empire that existed from the 1300s until the end of World War 1. The British & French divided up the Empire at the end of the war into mandates and protectorates under their control.

European Mandates and Protectorates

PARTITIONING to divide up a piece of land into separate portions representing different ethnic or religious groups.

MANDATE country placed under the control of another power by international agreement, typically given independence by a certain date

PROTECTORATE a relationship of protection and partial control assumed by a superior power over a dependent country or region

Zionist Movement European Jews who wanted a homeland (country) in Palestine. British government issued its support for a Jewish nation in Palestine in 1917. The British took control of the region after World War 1 but never delivered on the promise. Middle Eastern Arab leaders were opposed to this idea.

So, what have we learned about the European partitioning of the Middle East after the collapse of the Ottoman empire? Muslims lost control of their land and trade routes to foreign European western powers (Great Britain and France) Boundary lines were drawn without considering the ethnic and religious groups already living there, which caused tension. Middle Eastern states wanted independence from European domination.

Impact of WW2 on the Region The end of World War 2 led to an Independence movement for all of these nations. The Holocaust led to the belief that Jews deserved a homeland (nation) in Palestine. The UN helped establish Israel in 1948. Many surrounding Arab nations resented the taking of Palestinian land for the creation of Israel. The United States was committed to supporting Israel. This led to a long history of tension in the region.