Ottoman Empire Explain how European partitioning in the Middle East after the breakup of the Ottoman Empire led to regional conflict

Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire Controlled most of the Middle East from 1300’s to the end of World War I. Capital was Istanbul, Turkey The main weakness of the Ottoman Empire was its size and its leaders could not manage or have complete control over it. The ultimate downfall of the Ottoman empire was that they chose the losing side of WWI, joining forces with Germany and Italy. By losing the war, power weakened, and the empire was eventually broken apart by the winners of the war (England, France, etc.)

Ottoman Empire In 1920, a treaty was signed, and the countries that are now the Middle East were created. The main problem with the formation of the Middle Eastern countries is that they were drawn up by European politicians that paid no attention to ethnic and religious groups already living there. The inconsiderate boundaries caused conflict that is still present today. Many different groups of people try to live together in countries that were created by people who did not realize the problems these new boundaries would cause throughout history.

Map after the breakup of the Ottoman Empire

Pop Quiz 1. What led to the end of the Ottoman Empire at the close of World War I? The Ottomans were on the losing side of the war, along with Germany and Italy. The Empire spent too much money on buildings and new roads and went bankrupt. The people in the Empire were starving because a long drought had ruined agriculture. The Ottoman government was overthrown by a revolt of factory workers who were unemployed when the war ended.

Pop Quiz Who drew up the boundaries of the new countries created from the Ottoman Empire at end of World War I? United States Ottoman rulers European politicians Middle Eastern governments