History of the Middle East

The Cradle of Civilization Arabian Peninsula: Known as one of the “ Cradles of Civilization” –Birthplace of the worlds first civilizations –Sumerians –Mesopotamians –Babylonians –Assyrians –Phoenicians –Egyptians

Islamic Empires In the centuries after the rise of Islam, Muslim armies conquered: –Dark Red  Light Red  Yellow Muslim empires were called “ Caliphates” –5 total from

The Ottoman Empire Centered around modern-day Turkey Osman I consolidated power in late 13 th century At height, Ottoman Empire encompassed:

Ottoman Empire Expansion

By the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire known as the "sick man of Europe” French annexed Algeria in 1830 & Tunisia in 1878 French extended their influence into Lebanon and Syria British occupied Egypt and Cyprus in 1882 British took control of the Persian Gulf and supported Arab revolts against the Ottomans in the Arabian Peninsula Italians seized Libya in 1912 Ottomans turned to Germany to protect them from Europe - Result:  European Expansion

World War I Effect on Middle East Central Powers: (Ottoman Empire, Germany, and Austro-Hungarian Empire) Allied Powers (Britain, France, Italy, USA) Result: Allies Win! Outcome: End of Ottoman Empire

Post World War I Mandate system in the Middle East: –“Supervisory” control Great Britain: Iraq, Palestine, Transjordan France: Syria & Lebanon

Arab Independence Nationalist movements in the Middle East lead to some independence: –Egypt (1922) –Turkey (1923) –Iraq (1932) –Saudi Arabia (1932) –Iran (1935) However ………… the Western powers have influence in the Middle East!

World War II and Holocaust Allied Powers –England –France –Russia –United States Axis Powers –Germany –Austria –Japan –Italy ( ) Holocaust Impact: By 1945, approximately 6 million Jews had been killed across Europe! Outcome: A direct outcome of the Holocaust in the Middle East is…………………………………………

The Creation of Israel Britain steps up plans to create Jewish Homeland –Jewish settlers and Arab groups begin armed attacks versus British occupation United Nations Partition Plan of 1947 –Jews approve of UN Partition Plan –Arab population does not approve Britain turns mandate over to United Nations & withdraws from Palestine on May 14, 1948 David Ben-Gurion, leader of Jewish settlers, declares the state of Israel on May 15, 1948 Outcome: The Arab-Israeli Conflict !!

Egypt Current Government: Presidential Republic Current Leader: Mohamed Morsi 2011 GDP Rank: 42 nd Mohamed Ali Pasha “founder of modern Egypt” in 1805 Independence in 1922 from Great Britain 1952 Egyptian Revolution : military coup d'état; abolished the constitutional monarchy and establish a republic Gamal Abdel Nasser : 2 nd President of Egypt ( ); leader of Arab nationalism in Middle East, Anwar Al Sadat : 3 rd President of Egypt ( ); first Arab leader to recognize Israel; assassinated in 1981 Hosni Mubarak : 4 th President of Egypt ( ); forged peace with Israel, alliance with U.S., overthrown during 2011 Arab Spring

Turkey Ottoman Empire from 1200’s to Turkish War of Independence 1923 Republic of Turkey created Mustafa Kemal Ataturk : military commander, founder, and 1 st President –Establishes a “secular” constitution –Modernizes and Industrializes Turkey 1960, 1971, 1980, 1996: military intervenes to enforce secular constitution 2012: example of a working democracy in the Middle East; wants E.U. membership Current Government: Parliamentary Republic Current Leader: Recep Tayyip Erodgan 2011 GDP Rank: 58 th Bosporus: where Europe meets Asia

Iraq Former territory of Ottoman Empire 1920 placed under authority of Great Britain as a “mandate” (result of WWI) 1932 gained independence from Britain –Kingdom of Iraq (Monarchy) 1958 monarchy overthrown; Republic of Iraq est. led by Ba’ath Party (Shiite) 1979 Saddam Hussein becomes president – declares war on Iran ( Iraq-Iran War) – Kurdish Genocide: killing of 50, ,000 Kurds by Saddam’s govt. via chemical attack – Persian Gulf War : Saddam invades Kuwait; U.S. led coalition forces Iraq out of Kuwait nd Gulf War : U.S. invades Iraq; topples Saddam’s govt.; democracy est. Current Government: Constitutional Republic Current Leader: Nouri al-Maliki 2011 GDP Rank: 58 th

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took place in oil reserves were discovered along the Persian Gulf 1941 full-scale development of oil fields began –Economic prosperity followed King Abdul Aziz bin Saud becomes first king in becomes largest oil producer in the world Current Government: Absolute Monarchy - Nations is under Sharia Law (strict Islamic Law) Current Leader: King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz 2011 GDP Rank: 20 th

Iran Persia from 550 B.C. to 1935 Reza Khan : army officer and nationalist who sizes control of Persia in officially changes name to Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: Shah of Iran from ; modernizes Iran 1979 Iranian Revolution: Ayatollah Khomeini overthrows Shah and establishes an Islamist Govt Iranian Hostage Crisis Islamist students storm U.S. embassy in Tehran and held 52 hostages for 444 days Iran-Iraq War (Saddam Hussein orders Iraqi invasion of Iran) Current Government: Theocratic Republic - Constitution includes Sharia Law Current Leader: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 2011 GDP Rank: 25 th

Lebanon Former territory of Ottoman Empire Post-WWI mandate of France 1943 granted independence by France Lebanese Civil War : –Maronite Christians supported by Israel and the West vs. Arab nationalists, Muslims, and Palestinians supported by Soviets –Arab League leads Ta’if Accords –Outcome:120,000 deaths & 1 million wounded 2006 Conflict with Israel –Hezbollah bases located in Lebanon 2010 Arab Spring protests –minor/no changes Current Government: Republic Current Leader: Najib Miqati 2011 GDP Rank: 87 th

Syria Former territory of Ottoman Empire Post-WWI mandate of France 1946 granted independence by France United Arab Republic (united as one nation with Egypt) 1970 Hafiz al-Asad overthrows govt. in a bloodless coup 2000 Bashar al-Asad (son) becomes president March 2011-Present Syrian Civil War : rebels revolt against govt. Current Government: Authoritarian Republic Current Leader: Bashar al-Asad 2011 GDP Rank: 69 th

Jordan Former territory of Ottoman Empire Post-WWI mandate of Great Britain –called Transjordan 1946 granted independence by France –named Jordan King Hussein : 1 st king of Jordan ( ) King Abdullah II : (son) becomes king (1999-present) –economic & political reforms 2011 Arab Spring –brings political 7 judiciary reforms Current Government: Constitutional Monarchy Current Leader: King Abdullah II 2011 GDP Rank: 90 th

The United Arab Emirates 1500’s to 1971 under British control 1960 oil is discovered 1971 gained independence The U.A.E. is: –federation of seven monarchies each with their own “emir” –7 th largest oil reserves in the world –7 th largest natural gas reserves in the world –7 th highest per capita GDP –Ranked as a Developing economy Current Government: Federal Monarchy Current Leader: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan 2011 GDP Rank: 30 th Burj Khalifa, Dubai

Kuwait 1800’s-1918 territory of Ottoman Empire becomes a British protectorate –Sheikh rules govt. (British control foreign policy) 1930’s oil is discovered –Economy based off “pearling” prior 1961 granted independence Additional Info: –1990 invaded by Iraq (Result: Persian Gulf War ) – Arab Spring : only small minor protests –5 th largest oil reserves in the world –Oil accounts for 90% of Kuwait’s exports Current Government: Constitutional Monarchy Current Leader: Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah 2011 GDP Rank: 52 nd

Yemen Oman Yemen Oman Former territory of Ottoman Empire 1839 South Yemen is a British protectorate 1918 North Yemen gains independent 1967 South Yemen gains independence 1990 Yemen united as one country –South fights to separate from North (1994, 2004, 2008, 2010) – Arab Spring : protests against President Saleh leads to violence; demands leader steps down Outcome: 2012 transfers power to VP; new constitution being written; new elections 2014 – Terrorist training grounds located in Yemen Current Government: Presidential Republic Current Leader: Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi 2011 GDP Rank: 88 th Never under control of Ottoman Empire Never a colony of Britain or France ’s Friendship treaties with Britain 1970 Qaboos bin Said Al-Said overthrows his father; rules as sultan - Modernizes Oman; opens Oman to outside world 2011 Arab Spring : demonstrations for economic and political reforms - Council of Oman given power to draft, amend, and approve legislation Current Government: Islamic Absolute Monarchy Current Leader: Qaboos bin Said Al-Said 2011 GDP Rank: 77 th

Bahrain Qatar Bahrain Qatar ruled by Ottoman Empire British protectorate –Economy based on “pearling” 1940 beginning of oil & natural gas industry –Oil accounts for 50% of Qatar’s GDP –Natural Gas: 3 rd most in world (13% of world total) 1971 gained independence Additional info: –2 nd highest per capita income in world –Lowest unemployment rate in the world –Home to Al Jazirah television network Current Government: Constitutional Monarchy Current Leader: Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani 2011 GDP Rank: 58 th British protectorate –Sheikh rules locally (appointed by British) 1932 discovery of oil –Oil accounts for 11% of GDP (2012) –Oil is 60% of Bahrain’s exports (2012) 1971 gained independence Additional info: – Arab Spring : protests = no changes –Diversified economy (communication, transportation, construction, finance) Current Government: Constitutional Monarchy Current Leader: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa 2011 GDP Rank: 91 th

Afghanistan 1747 modern Afghanistan founded Mid-1800’s British expand influence from Pakistan Durand Line creates boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan dividing Pashtuns. Outcome: Various rival ethnic groups together as one nation by the British 1919 gains independence from British influence bloodless coup creates democratic govt. Ethnic groups: 42% = Pashtun 27% = Tajik 9% = Hazara 9% = Uzbek 4% = Aimak 3% = Turkmen 2% = Baloch 4% = Other Fact: “- stan” means “land of”

Taliban rule of Afghanistan Strict Islamic law = Human rights violations Al-Qaeda based in Afghanistan since Operation Enduring Freedom Allied invasion of Afghanistan overthrow Taliban and est. Democracy Taliban insurgency and Peace Talks 1978 communist govt. created Mujahideen fighters (Muslim Afghan opposition youth groups trained in Pakistan) Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan (Soviets defeated) Afghan Civil War = Taliban seizes control of Afghanistan Taliban (Islamic militant political group created from religious schools for Afghan refugees in Pakistan)