I mperialism in the M iddle E ast By Alana Ryan, Cara Lovett, Jessie Bushkoff, Joe Potochny, Margot Day, and Sarah Fahrenkrug

The Suez Canal In 1854, the Suez Canal Company gained permission from the Egyptian ruler to build the Suez Canal. Egypt brought 44% of the company shares to keep the project going Egypt sold its shares to Great Britain in 1875 Company shares proved to be helpful when Britain took over Egypt in 1882

Convention of Constantinople A crucial waterway in British imperialism Also enabled the colonization of East Africa Very important for the Italian conquest of Ethiopia Under the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, Britain retained control of the Suez Significant military base for Britain

Oil Fields in the Middle East Britain first discovered oil in Iran in 1908 America and Britain intensified their search for oil in the middle east in the 1920’s and 1930’s. 2/3’s of the world’s proven oil reserves are located in the middle east today.

Oil Fields in the Middle East World’s largest proven oil reserves were located in the countries of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait An exclusive group of multinational oil companies called the Seven Sisters controlled: Entire oil cycle Middle Eastern Oil Concessions Extraction of crude oil Final selling of the product

Sykes-Picot Agreement Negotiated in secret during WWI Sir Mark Sykes (Great Britain) and Georges François Picot (France) Split Middle East into spheres of influence. France directly controlled Syria, Lebanon, and Cilicia. ZOI-extended east from Damascus and Aleppo through Mosul Britain directly controlled Mesopotamian provinces (Iraq). ZOI-extended from Basra to Palestine. (Asia Minor Agreement)

Balfour Declaration November 2 nd, 1917, by Arthur Balfour to Lord RothschildNovember 2 nd, 1917, by Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild –Letter Support Zionist MovementSupport Zionist Movement Built wartime supportBuilt wartime support Suez Canal claimSuez Canal claim Chaim Weizmann- creditedChaim Weizmann- credited London Zionist Political CommitteeLondon Zionist Political Committee

Mandate System After WWI, L.N gave Britain a mandate over Palestine –Mandate- to see to the well-being and advancement of a population Palestine= a political entity for 1 st time Region decided by population size and ownership of land

Mandate System Problems because the Jews and Arabs claimed it as their homeland Britain took action due to violence Britain terminated the mandate, State of Israel was formed

William Knox D'Arcy- Looked for oil in the Persian Empire, ran out of funds Burmah Oil Co. gave him funds in exchange for operational control May of oil is discovered, Anglo- Persian Oil Co. is formed. British Petroleum (BP) In The 1900s

BP cont. Anglo-Persian Oil Co. made deal with British Government to stay independent Anglo-Persian Oil Co became Anglo- Iranian Oil Co in 1935 Went on to become BP (British Petroleum)

Works Consulted me=Reference&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=WHIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId= &documentId=GALE|CX &mode=viewhttp://ic.galegroup.com/ic/whic me=Reference&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=WHIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId= &documentId=GALE|CX &mode=view oil-spill/8055http:// oil-spill/ drberlin.com chiefacoins.com crossed-flag-pins.com