Download Starting in the 1200`s, one such group, the Ottoman Turks, an Islamic

The Ottoman Empire and the Interwar Period
Starting in the 1200’s, the Ottoman Turks, an Islamic but non-Arabic people living in what is today Turkey,
began gaining power and building an empire, which eventually united most of the Middle East and North Africa,
encompassing much of what had once been the Islamic Empire. They called their Empire the Ottoman Empire and
named Constantinople. Additionally, it conquered the Christian Byzantine Empire, giving it territory in much of
southeastern Europe. Turkish expansion reached its peak in the 16th century. At this time, the Ottoman Empire
changed the name of its capital from
Constantinople to Istanbul.
By the nineteenth century, the Ottoman
Empire was shrinking. Indeed, by time of the
beginning of World War I, the Ottoman Empire,
weakened and collapsing through the slow loss
of territory, was regarded as "the sick man of
Europe and Asia,” though it still remained a
political power in Europe and the Middle East.
World War I broke out in 1914. Britain,
France, the United States, and Russia were
united as the Allied forces. They fought the
Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Ottoman Turks assumed the Central Powers would win the
war. The Turks believed Germany would keep Russia from taking land from their declining empire, so the
Ottoman sultans joined the Central Powers, also known as Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Additionally, they also joined the Central Powers to gain needed technology from the Germans.
Although Turkish troops succeeded against the Allies in the Gallipoli campaign, Arabia rose against Turkish
rule, helping the British forces to capture and occupy Baghdad and Jerusalem. In 1918, Turkish resistance collapsed
in Asia and Europe. When the war was over and peace treaties signed, the Allied Powers broke up the lands that
had been what was left of the Ottoman Empire. They left to the Ottoman Turks only what we now know as the
modern nation of Turkey. In addition to the demise of the Ottoman Empire, Britain gained control of Palestine
after World War I.
During the Interwar Period [from the end of the First World War (1914-18) to the beginning of the Second
World War (1939 – 1945)], the Paris Peace Conference, made up of European politicians, parceled out former
Ottoman territories to the victorious nations for administration. The territories were called “mandates,” a term that
was meant to signify that the European countries were not establishing colonies, but instead were assisting these
countries in moving toward self-government and independence. The European countries were to
administer the mandates under the guidance of the newly-formed League of Nations. France was given
the mandates for Syria and Lebanon, Britain for Trans-Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine.
The Countries of the Middle East between WWI and WWII
Afghanistan
independent, with a "special relationship" with Great Britain
Algeria
French colony
Bahrain
British protectorate
Egypt
British protectorate until 1922, independent thereafter
Iran
independent, known as Persia until 1935
Iraq
League of Nations mandate administered by Great Britain until 1932,
independent thereafter
Israel
part of League of Nations mandate administered by Great Britain
Jordan
part of League of Nations mandate administered by Great Britain; also known as
Kerak or Trans-Jordan
Kuwait
British protectorate
Lebanon
part of League of Nations mandate administered by France
Oman
Independent, but had a "special relationship" with Great Britain,
also known as Muscat
Pakistan
part of British India, a British colony
Palestine
part of League of Nations mandate administered by Great Britain
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
British protectorate
independent - created in 1932 following the a series of conflicts that merged
several Arabian states
Syria
part of League of Nations mandate administered by France
Turkey
independent
U. A. E.
United Arab Emirates, was a British protectorate
Mandated territory- After World War I ended in 1918, certain colonies and territories were taken from
the defeated nations and placed under the administration of one or more of the victorious nations. These
areas were called mandated territories. The League of Nations, a forerunner of the United Nations (UN),
supervised the governing countries in the administration of the territories. The League expected the
governing countries to improve living conditions in the territories, and to prepare the people for self
government.
Britain received mandates for Mesopotamia (later renamed Iraq) and Palestine. Palestine was later
divided into Palestine and Transjordan (later renamed Jordan). France received Syria, which was later
divided into Syria and Lebanon.
Protectorate- A relationship between a strong sovereign nation and a weak nation or area not recognized
as a nation. Once the strong nation has established a protectorate over a weak nation, it can control the
latter's affairs. Also: the relation of a strong state toward a weaker state or territory that it protects and
partly controls.
Questions for Partition Chart:
1. How many countries were British protectorates during the interwar period?
2. How many were mandates administered by Great Britain?
3. How many were mandates administered by France?
4. How many were actual colonies? Whose colonies?
5. How many were or became independent during this period?
6. How many were independent during this period but had a “special relationship” with either Great Britain or
France?
7. What do you think this special relationship meant to the Middle Eastern country? To the European country?
8. What generalizations can you make about control of the region during the interwar period?
Questions for Partition Chart:
1. How many countries were British protectorates during the interwar period?
2. How many were mandates administered by Great Britain?
3. How many were mandates administered by France?
4. How many were actual colonies? Whose colonies?
5. How many were or became independent during this period?
6. How many were independent during this period but had a “special relationship” with either Great Britain or
France?
7. What do you think this special relationship meant to the Middle Eastern country? To the European country?
8. What generalizations can you make about control of the region during the interwar period?