Building modern nations in the Middle East Turkey, Egypt and Iran

Know the difference! Arabic = A culture predominantly in the Middle East Islam = A worldwide religion with followers in all countries (called Muslims) They are NOT THE SAME!!!!

BIG ideas Since 1945 the Middle East has been an area with extreme tension and change Many Muslims have urged a return to Islamic government and law Oil in the region has created conflict between Middle Eastern countries Dependence on oil has led other countries to get involved with conflicts in the Middle East

Turkey & Kemal Ataturk During WWI the Ottoman Empire collapsed and the nation of Turkey emerged Kemal Ataturk used nationalism to unite the Turkish people His goals were to modernize and westernize Turkey

During the Cold War, Turkey joined NATO and built a secular (non-religious) republican government Turkish nationalism has led to Turkey suppressing minorities in their country Kurds (an ethnic group) in Turkey were forbidden to speak or write in their own language

Egypt & Gamal Abdel Nasser Egypt was controlled by foreign powers until 1956 when Gamal Abdel Nasser emerged Nasser used nationalism to modernize the country Egypt Took control of the Suez Canal Created the idea of Pan-Arabism

"If Abdel Nasser dies. Each of you is Gamal Abdel Nasser "If Abdel Nasser dies... Each of you is Gamal Abdel Nasser... Gamal Abdel Nasser is of you and from you and he is willing to sacrifice his life for the nation."

Iran & Ayatollah Khomeini Large oil fields were discovered in Iran in the 1940s, leading to Iran being supported by the United States and western nations In 1945, the leader of Iran, known as the shah, was backed by western powers but faced problems at home

When the shah tried to eliminate Islamic law from Iran, millions of Iranians supported Islamic fundamentalist leaders, such as Ayatollah Khomeini The Ayatollah led an Islamic revolution, kicked the shah out of Iran, and got rid of all western ideas in the country Today, Iran works to modernize its country without westernizing it

Iran today - reading How has oil influenced Iran in the modern world? Why was there an Islamic revolution in Iran? How did it change the country? What are some criticisms of Iran’s revolution and current government? Why may have Iran chose to accelerate their nuclear program and defense system? How has Iran’s government dealt with protesters who felt unhappy w/election results?

6. Some say western nations should increase their support of the Iranian people who have had their human rights limited by Iran’s government; what are the pros and cons of this argument?