AP World History Unit 8 - Conflict in the Middle East

Sykes-Picot Agreement

Secret treaty between Britain and France that divided Ottoman-controlled lands in the Middle East, shaping modern borders and fueling regional tensions

Palestinian Liberation Organization

Organization founded to represent Palestinian interests, it initially pursued armed struggle but later engaged in diplomacy for statehood.

Arab League

Regional organization formed to promote political, economic, and cultural cooperation among Arab nations while addressing common issues.

Suez Crisis

Conflict where Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, prompting an invasion by Britain, France, and Israel before U.S. and Soviet pressure forced withdrawal

Zionism

Movement advocating for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, leading to the establishment of Israel

Arab Spring

Series of pro-democracy uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, challenging authoritarian regimes and sparking conflicts.

Intifada

Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, occurring in two major waves

Anglo-Iranian Oil Company

British-owned company that controlled Iran’s oil industry until being nationalized by Mosaddegh.

Iranian Revolution

Uprising that overthrew Iran’s monarchy, establishing an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini

Ayatollah Khomeini

Leader of the Iranian Revolution, becoming the founder and supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Great Satan

Term used by Iranian leaders to describe the United States, symbolizing its perceived role as a major enemy of Iran and its influence in the Middle East

Secularism

Principle of separating religion from government, promoting policies based on reason and science rather than religious beliefs.

Israel

Established in 1948 as a Jewish state in Palestine

Palestine

A region in the Middle East, historically home to Arabs that experienced tensions due to the establishment of Israel.

Six Day War

Conflict where Israel fought against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, resulting in Israel's capture of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights

Yom Kippur War

Surprise attack by Egypt and Syria on Israel during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, leading to heavy casualties before a ceasefire.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Egyptian president who promoted Arab nationalism, led the Suez Crisis, and pushed for modernization and pan-Arab unity.

Balfour Declaration

British statement supporting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Pan-Arab Nationalism

Movement advocating for the political unity of Arab countries

Non-Alignment Policy

Foreign policy adopted by countries during the Cold War to avoid alignment with either the U.S. or the Soviet Union

Mohammad Mossadegh

Prime minister of Iran who nationalized the country’s oil industry, leading to a CIA-backed coup that ousted him.

Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi

Shah that promoted modernization and Westernization before being overthrown in the Iranian Revolution.

9/11

Terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda that targeted the U.S. with hijacked planes hitting the World Trade Center and Pentagon

Al-Qaeda

Militant Islamist group founded by Osama bin Laden, responsible for the 9/11 attacks and other global terrorist activities aimed at Western targets

Osama bin Laden

Founder of al-Qaeda, responsible for planning the 9/11 attacks

Taliban

Militant Islamist group that governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and regained control in 2021, enforcing strict interpretations of Sharia law

George W. Bush

American president that led the country through the 9/11 attacks and initiated the War on Terror, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Islamism

Political ideology advocating for the implementation of Islamic law and governance

Saddam Hussein

Leader that led Iraq into the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War, and was later overthrown by the U.S. invasion.

The Gulf War

Conflict where a U.S.-led coalition expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Saddam Hussein's invasion

Operation Enduring Freedom

U.S.-led military operation launched to dismantle al-Qaeda and overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks.

ISIS

Militant Islamist group that emerged from al-Qaeda in Iraq, declaring a caliphate and becoming infamous for its brutal tactics and global terror attacks.

Patriot Act

U.S. law passed in 2001 that expanded government surveillance and counterterrorism powers in response to the 9/11 attacks

Department of Homeland Security

Executive agency that was created after 9/11, to coordinate national efforts to protect against terrorism, manage border security, and respond to disasters.