-Modern Middle East-

I. The Ottoman Empire / Turkey A. Beginning in the 1300s and continuing through WWI, Ottoman Turks (Muslims) controlled Asia Minor 1. By the end of WWI, Turkey was all that remained of the Ottoman Empire

B. After WWI, the Ottoman Empire’s Middle East territories were divided between Britain and France 1. The British promised self-determination and independence to Arab tribes upset with Ottoman rule a. Instead, Britain ruled these countries as Mandates

C. In 1922, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk overthrew the sultan of the Ottoman Empire and created the Republic of Turkey 1. Ataturk’s two main goals were to westernize and modernize Turkey

II. Lebanon A. From its independence in 1943 until the 1970s, Lebanon was one of the most prosperous nations of the Middle East B. From 1975-1990, Lebanon was consumed by a bloody civil war between Christians and Muslims 1. Israeli and Syrian intervention complicated the issue and prolonged the struggle

III. Creation of the state of Israel A. Important events in the creation of the state of Israel include: 1. Theodore Herzl and the Zionist Movement 2. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 3. Palestine becoming a British Mandate 4. The Holocaust 5. On May 14th, 1948, a U.N. resolution split Palestine into two separate states; Israel and Palestine

IV. The Arab-Israeli Conflict A. Since the creation of the nation of Israel there have been a number of conflicts between Israel and neighboring Arab nations 1. 1948 – Palestinian Arabs rejected the U.N. resolution and invaded Israel a. Israel received western support and defeated the disunited Arabs 2. 1956 – The Suez Crisis 3. 1967 – The Six Day War 4. 1973 – Yom Kippur War 5. 1987 – The Intifada

B. There have been several failed attempts at peace 1. 1979 – Camp David Accords 2. 1993 – The Oslo Accords 3. 1999 – The Dayton Accords C. Extremists on both sides continue to derail the peace process

V. Iran A. Shah Pahlevi ruled Iran as a corrupt dictator 1. He received the support of western nations B. Like Ataturk, the Shah attempted to modernize and westernize Iran

C. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini wanted Iran to return to strict Islamic traditions 1. This is known as Islamic fundamentalism 2. In the 1970s Khomeini overthrew the Shah and seized the American embassy, capturing American hostages inside 3. Khomeini encouraged Muslim fundamentalists throughout the Middle East to overthrow their secular governments

VI. Iraq A. Saddam Hussein led a Ba’ath Party revolution to overthrow the monarchy in Iraq B. Hussein became the secular leader of Iraq and ruled the nation as a military dictator

VII. The Iran-Iraq War A. In 1980, a border dispute between Sunni and Shiite Muslims flared into a full-scale war B. Both sides used chemical and biological weapons against the other

VIII. The Persian Gulf War A. After the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq was left with a large debt and a powerful army 1. Saddam Hussein accused Kuwait of stealing oil from Iraqi oil fields 2. For these reasons, Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990

B. A combined U. N. force led by the U. S B. A combined U.N. force led by the U.S. drove Iraq from Kuwait by March of 1991 C. Iraq was placed under several restrictions as a result of the Persian Gulf War 1. Iraq was prohibited from producing weapons of mass destruction 2. The nation’s arms facilities were subject to inspection by U.N. officials

D. In 2003, convinced that Saddam Hussein was violating the W. M. D D. In 2003, convinced that Saddam Hussein was violating the W.M.D. ban, the U.S. introduced a resolution at the U.N. requesting military action against Iraq and Saddam Hussein’s government 1. After the resolution was rejected by the U.N. Security Council, a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq 2. This action was met with objection from other members of the international community

E. As a result of the invasion Saddam Hussein was removed from power and executed 1. The future of Iraq is still undecided

IX. Arab Spring A. Beginning in December of 2010, a revolutionary wave swept across much of the Arab world 1. Nonviolent and violent protests, demonstrations, riots, and civil wars broke out across the region

2. Leaders were overthrown in: a. Tunisia b. Egypt c. Libya d. Yemen

X. Obstacles to peace in the Middle East A. Many issues continue to be divisive factors in the Middle East 1. Conflicts between modern and traditional ideas a. Women’s rights 2. Religious conflicts a. Sunnis vs. Shiites

3. Environmental issues a. Water rights b. Continued oil drilling 4. Displaced peoples and refugees 5. Terrorism