1. History of the Middle East

2. Ottoman Empire At one time the Muslim Ottoman Empire was six times the size of Texas. It stretched across what is now Turkey and parts of southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia.

3. Ottoman Empire Before WW1 it had already lost big chunks of its empire The Ottoman Empire was on the losing side of WW1, Britain and France divided up the land. France took control of Lebanon & Syria, the British took control of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, & Jordan. The problems created by this land division are still present in the Middle East today.

4. Britain and France did this to make money off of the oil in the Middle East. Shia and Sunni Muslims were grouped together and created Iraq. The Kurds are not given their own country, but are divided into Turkey, Iraq, and Iran.

5. Conflicts over land & religion are CONSTANT problems in the Middle East. Part of the conflict is over religious differences May 14, 1948-Jewish Leaders declare the independent State of Israel May 15, 1948 – Arab countries attack Israel Middle Eastern countries do not recognize it is a country and isolate them.

6. Iran 1979 Muslims overthrow the government of Iran and try to remove western influences Strict laws are put into place based on the Koran