1. Conflict in the Middle East
Modern Southwest Asia
Conflict in the Middle East

2. Independence Ottoman Empire Post WWI National Movements
reached its peak in 1500
declined by late 1800s
Post WWI
Ottoman Empire dissolved (Turkey)
Britain and France gain control of territories
Divided up territories without regards to ethnic, religious, political, or historical divisions.
National Movements
Resentment sparked movements for independence
1930 – 1971

3. Arab – Israeli Conflict
Palestine
British created territory after WWI
Most living in it were Muslim
Jewish Nationalists
Zionism
Wanted to reestablish homeland in Palestine
Post WWII – thousands of Jews were now refugees

4. United Nations Decision
Voted to divide Palestine into two states
Arabs rejected the proposal
1948 – Jewish state declares its independence
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs become refugees
6 Day War
Israel captures West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula (1982), the Gaza Strip (2005), and Golan Heights.

5. Civil Wars in Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Yemen The Kurds (living in eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, and Western Iran) have fought to gain their own country 1970s - Revolt in resulted in the overthrow of a monarchy and establishment of an Islamic republic – Iraq invaded Iran starting an 8 year war Iraq invades and annexed Kuwait triggering the Persian Gulf War
Civil Wars

6. Conflict and Terrorism
September 11, 2001
Islamist organization called al-Qaeda
Retaliation for America’s support of Israel and the Persian Gulf War
Killed 3,00 people
Islamic ruling group – the Taliban supported al-Qaeda
October 2001, US and UK forces invade Afghanistan to remove the Taliban
Conflict and Terrorism

7. Iraq War ( )
US and UK forces invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam Hussein
Accused of having weapons of mass destruction
Phase 1 – conventional war March – April 2003
Phase 2 – US Occupation

8. Uprising in Tunisia that spread throughout Middle East
Arab Spring
Uprising in Tunisia that spread throughout Middle East
Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Algeria, and Egypt
Democratic movement
Militant Islamic groups
Limits the growth of democracy and civil rights
Does not represent all Muslims