Key Events in the Formation of the

Middle East

A. The Decline of the Ottoman Empire

• The sultan (ruler) governed the empire through the Millet (religious group) system

• WWI = end of the Ottoman Empire

Using the metaphor of a house, describe the Middle East under the Ottoman Empire.

B. The World War I Peace Agreement• Treaty of Versailles

• Sykes – Picot Agreement

• Mandate ≠ Millet

• Middle East spilt between France and Britain

C. Rise of Arab Nationalism• In 1924 the caliph (leader of Islam) was removed

• Arab nationalism grew

D. The Partition of Palestine• Zionism – the movement to create a Jewish country in Palestine

• Balfour Declaration

• Israel created in 1947 by the United Nations

E.The Partition of Syria and Lebanon• The French Syria split into 4 provinces. Lebanon was created.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947_UN_Partition_Plan

F. The Formation of Iraq and Kuwait• Iraq gained independence from Britain in 1930

• Kuwait, for trade reasons, remained under British control until 1961