The Middle East Origins of Conflict

Middle East Geography

What important waterways are located in the Middle East? How might the geography of the Middle East lead to conflict? How might resources lead to Middle East conflict?

Ottoman Empire Large Powerful Islamic Empire (1400’s to 1920) Controls much of Middle East

Map of Ottoman Empire

What happened to the Ottoman Empire? On the wrong side of World War I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMetKAVtg9w The Alliance System puts global powers at war after Serbian Gavliro Princip assassinates Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary The Ottoman Empire is allied with the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Bulgaria They fight the Allied Powers of Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Serbia, and the United States (and the Central Powers lose!)

HINGE QUESTION WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE AFTER WORLD WAR I?

PREDICT & ANSWER THE FOLLOWING: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A WAR? WHY MIGHT THE ALLIED POWERS HAVE DECIDED TO SPLIT UP THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE? WHAT CONSEQUENCES MIGHT THIS ACTION HAVE?

Empire is broken up after World War I Divided between Great Britain and France New nations are controlled by mandates: one nation controlled by another by international agreement

How did Middle East problems begin? Fall of the Ottoman Empire The region’s large amount of different ethnic groups caused rising tensions, and the governments in place could not deal with them. The sense of nationalism continued until 1922 when the Republic of Turkey was created, formally ending the Ottoman Empire’s reign. After World War I, the remaining sections of the old empire were partitioned (divided) up WITHOUT consideration for those ethnic/cultural differences.

HINGE QUESTION WHAT IS A MANDATE AND HOW DID THIS SYSTEM IMPACT THE MIDDLE EAST?

Where is Palestine?

Britain controls area after WW I (WHY???) Palestinian Conflict Britain controls area after WW I (WHY???) Jews travel to Palestine to escape persecution After Holocaust, many Jews immigrate to Palestine

Jewish Migration to Palestine Began in the 1920s 1920: 95% Palestinian; 5% Jewish [29,000] 1947: 68% Palestinian; 32% Jewish [630,000] Jewish population after the creation of Israel: 1948: 0.8 million 1964: 2.4 million Now: approximately 6.5 million

Palestine already home to Arabs 1947, Palestine is split by United Nations into Jewish and Arab sections Arab-Israeli Wars result After 1949, Palestine ceases to exist, Israel is created http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY-e7mxQdfw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y58njT2oXfE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDgWFoM7v5o

The Eventual Result?

HINGE QUESTION WHY DID PALESTINE CEASE TO EXIST AFTER 1949?

Arab refugees have to find new homes Many peace attempts have been tried and failed What refugees have been in the news recently?

Sources of Conflict in Middle East Religious differences Christians, Jews, and Muslims all occupy same region All three religions consider Jerusalem holy In Islam, differences between Sunni and Shia cause conflict; evident in Iraq…

What is evident about the population of Iraq?

Ethnic Differences Splits after WWI don’t work Multiple ethnic groups are in Iraq and the Middle East Sunni & Shia populations in Iraq look to control country Kurds want their own nation in northern Iraq

Conflict over Resources & Trade The Suez Canal Why might this be important? How could it lead to conflict?

The Suez Crisis of 1956 Egypt, under Abdel Nasser, choses to nationalize canal; kicks Britain and France out Britain, France, and Israel attack to take control of canal Under foreign pressure, Britain, France, and Israel withdraw

Current Problems Fundamentalism: Radical, extremist views Ethnocentrism: Belief that your beliefs/culture are right, others are wrong. Examples? Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran (1979)- forms Iranian theocracy Osama Bin Laden- Master mind behind Sept. 11 attacks http://www.tristatehomepage.com/story/d/story/evansville-mans-cartoon-after-paris-attack-receivi/28990/wt8ap9GvZkCGIaQNT7OTwg http://www.theindychannel.com/web/wrtv/news/local-news/evansville-editorial-cartoon-goes-worldwide

Islamic Revolution in Iran-1979 Oil rich Iran is ruled by Shah Pahlavi who is supported by the United States Government of the Shah is corrupt and becomes wealthy from oil Iranians demand reform and turn to the religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6RGeqNFaQM

Revolution in Iran Shah leaves for the U.S. & Khomeini takes over Iran Iran turns into an Islamic theocracy Protesters storm U.S. Embassy and take 52 hostages Hostages freed after 444 days Tensions between U.S. and Iran still high

Middle East Wars Iran/Iraq War (1980-1988) Fought for oil, control of the region, religions & ethnic differences Who did the U.S. support?

1st Persian Gulf War Fought in 1990-91 Iraq/ Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait Looking for oil, access to Persian Gulf (why was Kuwait so important?

Large coalition led by the U. S. and George H. W Large coalition led by the U.S. and George H.W. Bush defends Kuwait and attacks Iraq/Saddam Saddam forced to withdraw from Kuwait but stays in power. Good idea, bad idea?

Operation Desert Storm

September 11, 2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lKZqqSI9-s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBOd1XB943oqqSI9-s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0Qu6eyyr4c&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJbGm7GE1tA&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Who attacked the U.S.?- Al Qaeda (terrorist group), led by Osama bin Laden, NOT IRAQ Why was the U.S. attacked?- Anti-American views resulting from U.S. support of Israel, ethnocentrism What was the U.S. response?- The U.S. led by George W. Bush invaded Afghanistan, attacking the Taliban and Al Qaeda Anti-Muslim views in U.S. increased resulting in discrimination & ethnocentrism

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda The Taliban (a fundamentalist Islamic group) aided and housed a terrorist group called al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan This organization that introduced a “very false perception of Islam” was responsible for over 3,000 deaths on September 11, 2001 in the U.S. Since that event, until just recently, U.S. soldiers have been searching for al-Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan and world wide Osama bin Laden was found in Pakistan by U.S. intelligence and killed in May of 2011 by U.S. Navy Seal Team 6.

2nd Persian Gulf War George W. Bush declares “war on terror” Adopts policy of “pre-emptive war” Believes Iraq has weapons of mass destruction U.S. invades Iraq in March 2003

WMD’s never found Saddam Hussein is caught, executed Civil War breaks out between Sunni and Shiite U.S. troops caught in quagmire War dragged on for 9 years…..

War in Iraq ends under Obama in Dec. 2011 Was it necessary? 150,000 Iraqis die Were 4801 U.S. casualties worth it? http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/war.casualties/ http://apps.washingtonpost.com/national/fallen/ Should the U.S. have left? Struggle for oil? Should it have started?

Afghanistan & Bin Laden Bin Laden is killed in a raid in Pakistan by Navy Seal Team 6 on May 1st, 2011 War in Afghanistan continued until Dec. 2014 3,504 U.S. deaths to date What should become of the War on Terror? What is the legacy of 9/11/2001?

Continued Conflict-ISIS: Who are they? A jihadist (holy war) group in the Middle East that has oil revenues (money), weapons and organization. They controlled large stretches of Syria and Iraq in hopes for statehood (become a country). They claim to be running a Caliphate (Islamic State ruled by one leader), a theocracy They want to enforce their view of conservative Islamic Traditions

Where was ISIS? The Caliphate covers ISIS- controlled areas in Northern Syria and Northwestern Iraq.

Where was ISIS?

ISIS Methods ISIS has more than 30,000 fighters and are known for their brutality. (The beheadings of two American journalists and a British aid worker shocked the public and made clear ISIS’ brutal tactics.) ISIS uses social media to spread fear. (more than 4 million Syrians have fled to other countries) It is said to be raising $2 million a day from oil sales, taxes, extortion, and smuggling.

International Response The United States and other nations acted by bombing militant positions to prevent ISIS from overrunning more territory. The United States also authorized humanitarian assistance, including airdrops of food and aid supplies, as well as targeted airstrikes to support those who fled into the mountains to escape ISIS. What is the current state of ISIS? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034 http://www.businessinsider.com/maps-of-isis-territory-2014-2017-10

FINAL QUESTION BASED UPON THIS INFORMATION, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST LOOK LIKE?