Arabs had helped the Allied Powers fight the Ottomans during WWI – British officer T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) helped lead the Arab revolt against the Ottomans – Had been promised that they would gain independence at the end of the war

Great Britain and France divided up the Ottoman lands between themselves – Established Mandates Form of imperialism where territories were administered by European powers – Britain controlled Palestine and Iraq – France controlled Syria and Lebanon Arab nationalists sought to be free of foreign control

Nationalism led to Pan-Arabism – Movement that sought Arab unity based on a shared heritage

Discovery of huge oil reserves in the Middle East increased interest in region by industrialized nations – Led to rapid economic changes and development – Foreign business invested money in developing oil fields – Western nations tried to dominate the region

A movement which called for the creation of an independent Jewish state in Palestine – started by Theodor Herzl in 1896 Had been concerned by the rise of Anti-Semitism and pogroms against Jews in European countries – Arabs and Jews had lived on this land Had been part of the Ottoman Empire before WWI

Britain issued the The Balfour Declaration which supported a Jewish homeland in Palestine – Said it should not displace Arabs living there – Arabs opposed the idea

Palestine became a British mandate after WWI – Large numbers of Jews began moving to Palestine – Increased tensions between Jews and Arabs – Modern state of Israel was created by the United Nations after WWII

How are Pan Slavism, Pan Arabism, and Zionism similar? Why were industrialized nations interested in the Middle East?