Nationalism in the Middle East

1
Nationalism in the Middle East

• A WH1 Presentation
• by Mr. Hess

2
Introduction

• In the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, nationalism became
  widespread in the Middle East, particularly in
• the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
• Palestine (now Israel), and
• Persia (now Iran)

3
The Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman Empire was already in decline by the
  end of the 19th century.
• The sultan allied with Germany in WWI to try to
  strengthen the empire.
• Result lost all lands but present-day Turkey
• 1919 Greece invaded, in an attempt to destroy
  the Ottoman Empire.

4
The Ottoman Empire, cont.

• Mustafa Kemal led troops in defeating the Greeks
  in 1922.
• He then demanded that the sultan give up the
  throne.
• Kemal became the first president of the Republic
  of Turkey.

5
Turkey

• Kemal brought in western influences
• calendar,
• Latin alphabet,
• metric system,
• western-style last names,
• separation of government and religion.

• He also promoted national pride
• Purified the language of all words of Persian
  or Arabic origin.
• Changed his name to Kemal Ataturk (father of the
  Turks).

6
Palestine

• After WWI, Britain received control of Palestine
  from the Ottoman Empire.
• Arabs and Jews both believed they had claims to
  the land.
• Jewish immigration to Palestine had increased due
  to persecution and Zionism (the movement to
  reestablish a Jewish homeland in Palestine).

7
Palestine, cont.

• Britain had promised Arabs independence in return
  for help against the Ottoman Turks.
• They also promised help in establishing a Jewish
  homeland.
• Nazi persecution of Jews further increased
  immigration, leading to violence between Jews and
  Arabs.
• Britain failed to control the situation.

8
Persia

• 1921 Unhappy with foreign influences, Reza Khan
  and nationalists overthrew the shah (king).
• He built schools, roads, hospitals, and allowed
  women more freedom.

9
Persia, cont.

• Reza adopted many Western ways, but tried to
  reduce Western political influence.
• Due to resistance to democracy, he ruled as
  dictator.
• He changed his name to Reza Shah Pahlavi.

10
Persia, cont.

• He aligned Persia with Nazi Germany, believing
  they shared a common Aryan ancestry.
• He changed Persias name to Iran (Aryan).
• During WWII, he was deposed by Allied forces, who
  replaced him with his son, who was much more
  cooperative toward the west.

11
Today

• Turkey continues to be one of the few democracies
  in the Middle East.
• Violence continues between Jews and Arabs in
  Israel.
• Iran has been an Islamic theocracy since 1978,
  when Mohammed Shah Pahlavi was overthrown.
• The Iran Hostage Crisis occurred soon afterward,
  with 52 Americans held hostage for over a year.