Historical Understandingsof the Middle East

SS7H2 The students will analyze continuity and change in Southwest Asia (Middle East) leading to the 21st century.

SS7H2aExplain how European partitioning in the Middle East after the breakup of the Ottoman Empire led to regional conflict.

Ottoman Empire

joined the

Central Powers

in WWI and lost.

It was partitioned

by Britain and

France without

considering

ethnic groups.

It caused

regional conflict

over land,

especially with

the Kurds.

SS7H2bExplain the historical reasons for the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948; include the Jewish religious connection to the land the holocaust, anti-Semitism, and Zionism in Europe.

Jews expelled

from homeland;

Muslim Empire

takes over

Anti-Semitism

in Europe

throughout

centuries

Zionism

Holocaust

Arab -

Israeli

War 1948

Creation of the state

of Israel in 1948

SS7H2cDescribe how land and religion are the reasons for continuing conflicts in the Middle East.

Continuing

Conflict

over land in

Middle East

Religious differences

between Israelis and

Palestinians and

historical claims to

same land

Ethnic differences of

the Kurds wanting

homeland

Religious differences

between Sunni (Iraq)

and Shia (Iran)

Muslims

Kurds want Homeland

Sunni vs. Shia

(Arabs) (Persians)

SS7H2dExplain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia (Middle East); include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

US interests in Southwest Asia

• Protecting Oil

• Protecting Israel

• Fighting Terrorism

SS7H2dExplain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia (Middle East); include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Iraq invaded Kuwaitfor oil and easy access

to Persian Gulf

Persian Gulf War

"Operation DesertStorm", US removed Iraqi soldiers from

Kuwait.

1991

SS7H2dExplain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia (Middle East); include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

9/11 Attack on World Trade Center by Osama

bin Laden who was being sheltered by

Taliban government.

War in Afghanistan

US troops arrived in Afghanistan to remove

Taliban.

2001

al-Qaeda:

a radical Muslim organization dedicated to the elimination

of a Western presence in Arab countries and militantly

opposed to Western foreign policy: founded by Osama bin

Laden in 1988.

Taliban:

a fundamentalist Islamic militia; in 1995 the Taliban militia

took over Afghanistan and in 1996 took Kabul and set up an

Islamic government; "the Taliban enforced a strict Muslim

code of behavior“.

SS7H2dExplain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia (Middle East); include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

US believed Iraq possessed

Weapons of Mass Destruction

(WMDs)

Iraq War

"Operation Iraqi Freedom", US

invaded and removed Saddam Hussein from

power.

2003

ISIS:

stands for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria

and is a militant group ruling by Sharia law.