Nationalism in the Middle East

• Be able to write a short paragraph on how nationalism shaped the Middle East.

Goals

The Ottoman Empire

• Since the early 19th century it had grown weakero Happened to due European

Imperialism o Lost Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and

Greece• In 1876 reformers seized control of the

empire’s government o Created a constitution that attempted to

set up a legislative body• Abdulhamid II

o suspended the constitution and ruled by force

• 1908 Abdulhamid II was removed as ruler• Ethnic Turks envisioned a country that

would be strictly Turkish

Decline of Ottoman Empire

• Old Ottoman Empire finally died because of World War 1o Ottoman Empire sided with

the Germans • British attempted to distract the

Ottoman Empireo Supported Arab nationalist

movements o T.E. Lawrence helped make

this happen

World War 1

• During WW1 Armenians demanded its independence.

• Armenian nationalists started uprising

• Govt. reacted by killing Armenians in 1915

• In one year around 1 million Armenians were killed

• By 1918 another 400,000 had been killed

Armenian Massacre

The Young Turks● In 1908, a group of young intellectuals over threw the

sultan-called The Young Turks. This new leadership sought to make the Ottoman Empire exclusively Turkish and Muslims.

● In 1910, the Armenians were labeled enemies of Muslim Turkey (due to not fitting the above description)

Enver Bey, the leader of the Young Turks.

The Genocide Begins

● In 1914, Turkey entered WWI. A military offensive against Russia ended in disaster and Turkey accused the Armenians of aiding Russia.

● On April 24, 1915-Turkish authorities arrested and executed Armenian leaders in Constantinople. This date would be forever remembered as the beginning of the Armenian genocide.

The Genocide Continues…

● In June 1915, the Armenian population was deported to the desserts of Syria and Iraq. Prior to deportation, all able-bodied males were shot.

● 25% of those that left Turkey would eventually arrive in Syria and Iraq. The majority of people were either murdered or died of thirst and starvation along the way.

The Genocide Ends

● In 1919, the Young Turks were put on trial for war crimes and were found guilty for the destruction of the Armenian people.

● 1.5 million of the 2.5 million Armenans were killed during the genocide.

• After the war England and France divided up the Middle East and the Ottoman Empireo Only modern day Turkey remained

• Greece quickly invaded Turkeyo This united Turkey under Mustafa Kemal o He summoned a national congress o His forces defeated the Greeks

• By 1923 only Turkey remained of the Ottoman Empire

Post World War 1

• Mustafa Kemal became presidento His goal was to transform Turkey

Enacted a democratic style of government Changed the Turkish language Forced citizens to adopt family names

• Religious Reformo Wanted to break power of the Islamic Religion on government

Wanted a secular state Religious dress was outlawed

• Social Reform o Gave women the right to vote in 1934o Allowed people to practice other religions

Modernization of Turkey

Persia

• In 1908 oil was discovered in Southern Persiao Brought in a large foreign

presence • This lead to a Persian Nationalist

movement • 1921 Reza Khan invaded and seized

Tehran o 1925 made himself Shah

• Attempted to follow Turkey’s example o He adopted Western style of

education o Outlawed certain religious

clothing • In 1935 Persia became known as Iran

Beginnings of Iran

• Home country of Jews of the Bible o Jews were exiled in 1st century AD

• 1890’s Zionist movement had started o Support of a Jewish homeland

• By 1930’s around 80% of Palestine was Muslim Arabso Nationalism of Jews and Arabs both wanted Palestine

• Jews immigrated from Europe to Palestine during the 1930’s• Britain was in charge of Palestine

o Issued the Balfour Declaration supported Palestine as Jews homeland

• 1939 British declared only 75,000 Jews could come to Palestine

Palestine