IB HL World History: Middle East in WW1

Senior Yr in HS

Ottoman Empire Overview

A multiethnic system led by a seat of the caliphate (leader of Sunni Islam) which controlled Anatolia, outer parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and fertile crescent.

Allied Powers

• Great Britain

• France

• Russia

• US

Central Powers

• Germany

• Austria-Hungary

• Ottoman Empire

Hussein-McMahon Correspondence (1915-16)

Wartime agreement between Sharif Hussein and Henry McMahon where GB promised an Arab nation on fertile crescent because Hussein led Arab revolt and distracted Ottomans (map was never drawn, therefore, promise was never fulfilled).

Sharif Hussein

Arab-Sunni King of Hijaz that served as the guardian of mecca under the Ottoman Empire. Established Hussein-McMahon Correspondence. Father of Abdullah and Faisal Hussein.

Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916)

Secret wartime agreement between European powers that divided the middle east amongst Europeans post-war in the case that the Ottoman Empire collapsed. Great Britain, France, Italy, and Russia would take land in the middle east and went against the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence. Russia ended up dropping out of the war and as a result wasn’t going to get any land, therefore they leaked it in 1917 since it went against communist beliefs.

Balfour Declaration (1917)

Wartime treaty that stated Great Britain’s support of Zionists and a Jewish homeland in Palestine where GB ruled Palestine as an imperial power (a.k.a mandatory Palestine). Contradicted both Hussein-McMahon and Sykes-Picot Agreement and was controversial for being very vague.

Self-Determination

Belief that people should be able to rule their own land; independence; anti-imperalism.

King-Crane Commission (June-August 1919)

Surveyed elites in Palestine/Anatolia and found that they wanted independence and remained very anti-Jewish. King Fasial Hussein didn’t publish findings. Commission went against European desires so Europeans boycotted it.

Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations

Established a mandate system, imperial powers (GB and France) in the middle east, and represented a white man’s burden mentality.

Mandate

A protectorate demonstrating imperialism that serves as a colony and was called into existence by Article 22 of the Covenant League of Nations of which was mainly used in the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Ended WW1. Thirty-two countries signed it, dividing it into three groups—territorial, military, and economic (“big 3”).

Territorial Terms

Land was returned to France. Germany lost all land and all colonies.

Military Terms

Germany’s army was restricted to 100,000 and did not have an air force, held a weak navy, and was a demilitarized zone.

Economic Terms

Germany had to pay 132 billion gold marks and was blocked from entering league of nations and was forced to take the blame for the war.

US Wants After WW1

League of Nations and to protect Germany.

France Wants After WW1

Land returned, no German army, money from Germany, and league of nations.

GB Wants After WW1

More land, stronger navy, and money from Germany

San Remo Agreement (1920)

A territorial agreement that stated Arab territories were not prepared for independence, therefore, formalizing the mandate system which is further built in Article 22. Calls for transfer of power over middle eastern land to GB and France.

Treaty of Sevres (1920)

Cuts the Ottoman Empire and resulted in 1/3 of Anatolia to be considered free. Kurds and Armenians each get their independent countries—Kurdistan & Armenia. It upheld the Balfour Declaration which advocated for British zionism and was not recognized by Turkey. Dardenelle Straits were placed under international supervision until Ar1936.

Treaty of Lausanne (1923)

No Kurdistan or Armenia since Turkey gave up claims in Africa and Arabian Peninsula. France lost mandate land and expanded Europe’s influence in the middle east by imperialist policy.

Armenian Genocide

Christian minorities: 10% of the ottoman population

Fasial Hussein

Son of Sharif Hussein that led the Arab Revolt (1916-1918) and ruled Syria for a little bit before the French kicked him out of power for being too nationalistic. Fled to Haifa, a Palestine mandate. Became King of Iraq with Britain’s support.

Syrian Rebellion (1925-27)

Led by the Druze which represent 3% of the population; anti-French resentment so strong, people followed the Druze. Resulted in 2,000 French and 6,000 Syrians killed.

French Mandate Divide & Rule Policy

Separated Syrians based on ethnicity/religion so that they couldn’t unite and overthrow the French. Gave ruling power to Sunni Muslims in Syria and favored Christians over any other religion in Lebanon. French did not let Faisal Hussein rule Syria. Led to the development of balkanization and cause the Syrian Civil War.

Lebanon Overview

Founded on the basis that religious groups should hold governmental power forming identity-based politics. Christians (mordenites) were given most power.

Abdullah Hussein

Son of Sharif Hussein that became ruler of Transjordan.

Political Breakdown of Lebanon

President = Maronite Christian

Speaker of Parliament = Shia

Prime Minister = Sunni (appointed by the President and can be ignored/fired easily)

*All is established in Lebanon’s constitution.

Reasons Why Ottomans Joined WW1

Ottomans thought they would only be fighting Russia alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary and sought revenge towards Russians for backing the nationalists in the Balkans/Caucasas region.

Armenians

Nationalist Christian minority in the Ottoman Empire. Ottomans committed genocide against this group during WW1.

British Mandates

• Transjordan

• Palestine

• Iraq

French Mandate

• Syria

• Lebanon

Iraq Ethnic Breakdown

• Sunni Arab

• Kurd

• Shia Arab (Majority)

• Yazidi