1. Imperialism in the Middle East
World History
Macdonald

2. Background
Colonization of Middle East usually b/c of geopolitics (taking of land for position or products)
Most Middle Eastern leaders tried to modernize to stop imperialism

3. Egypt
Egypt’s location at head of Red Sea valuable to Europeans b/c of control of trade

4. Egypt Modernizes
Egypt’s leader Muhammad Ali tried to modernize to keep out foreigners
Began growing cash crops – cotton
made $ b/c sold to industrialized countries
Hurt peasants b/c lost land & food

5. Egypt Modernizes
2. Built Suez Canal – man-made canal to connect Red Sea to Mediterranean
Borrowed $ from England
Couldn’t pay interest on debt
British took over canal & occupied Egypt to protect investment

6. Persia Wanted to modernize, but didn’t have $ to do so
To raise $, rulers began giving European businesses the right to operate in a certain area or control a certain product
Ex. British company had control of oil fields

7. Riots Lead to Colonization
Many ppl in Persia didn’t want to give up control of products to Europeans
Religious Muslim leaders thought European influence was ungodly
Tensions rose between ppl & gov’t – led to riots & gov’t couldn’t control ppl
Businesses at risk due to riots, Europeans wanted to make sure investments made $, so Russia & Britain took over country