Imperialism and Nationalism in the Middle East

Ottoman Empire & Turkish Nationalism Multi-cultural make-up of the Ottoman empire. All subjected to massacres ordered by the “Red Sultan” in response to protests against his tyranny Young Turks led the protests, promised reform and peace for all. Joined Germany in World War I – Turkish Nationalism

Allied Triumph over the Ottoman British declared an official protectorate over Egypt 1916 local governor of Mexxa, encouraged by British, declared Arabia independent from Ottoman rule British troops seized Palestine – 0ct 1918 with 300,000 casualties from the war, negotiated an armistice with the allied powers

Persia – Qajar Dynasty ( ) Growing western influence – Russia & Great Britain – Discovery of oil reserves in 1908 – Division of spheres of influence Internal divisions Led to growth of indigenous Persian Nationalist Movement – By 1906 Shah forced to grant a constitution based on a western model

Pahlavi Dynasty, 1925 Iran, 1935 Established by Reza Khan Attempted to establish a Republic Reforms: – Strengthened central government – Modernized the civilian & military bureaucracy – Modern economic infrastructure – Western educational model – Forbade veiling in public Name of nation changed to Iran, 1935 Occupied by Soviet & British troops during WWII

Mandate System Iraq was assigned to the British Syria and Lebanon were given to the French.

Iraq Established after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire – Kurdish, Sunni and Shi’ite population Occupied by British in WWI to protect oil – Placed under British mandate in 1920 – Repressed anti-western resistance by 1921 – Oil discovered in Kirkuk in 1927 – Britain supported Syrian rule of King Faisal & maintained heavy influence

Saudi Arabia 1920s, Ibn Saud of the Wahhabi Movement united Arab tribes to drive out Ottoman Rule Established the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1932 Traditionally poor, Standard Oil struck oil in 1938 at Dhahran on the Gulf. – Arabian-American oil or ARAMCO established

Palestine British Mandate following WWI Zionist Movement, Theodor Herzl est Jewish immigration accepted in Palestine prior to and during WWI – 85,000 or 10% of the population were Jewish by the War – Balfour Declaration of 1917 declared Palestine a national home for Jews

Division of Palestine & Creation of Jordan Post WWI Britian created a separate state or Emirate of Trans-Jordan out of the eastern portion of Palestine WWII, became the independent kingdom of Jordan – Arab-Palestine conflict today & the Apartheid state that exists is a product of these British interventions

Post War Era & Rise of Radicalism British & French Refusals to grant autonomy fueled nationalist upheavals in Africa & middle east Imperial governments determined to control middle eastern oil fields, strategic Suez Canal & the Persian Gulf

Pan-Africanism African leaders, alienated by European economic, political and cultural domination called for unity of all Africans Henry Sylvester-Williams called the first Pan- African Conference in London 1900 Later held in Latin America & United States