WA.4

DRAFT Page
=Identify when the countries in the Middle East became independent nations and explain how independence was achieved.=

The Middle East is defined differently on different maps. The most [|extensive map] from Rethinking Schools Online included areas in Africa, Asia, and Europe. FOR the purposes of the Mass. curriculum frameworks, however, the Middle East is more narrowly and traditionally defined, limited to the nations listed below.

A useful classroom activity on the Middle East could revolve around the questions of defining gepgraphic regions. Good questions to discuss could include: Who names regions? How are they determined? For example, why are the Asian nations of Afghanistan and Pakistan now being referred to more and more as "the Middle East"? If the Middle East is characterized by religion, then will Indonesia, a Muslim naiton, soon be included in the region? If the Middle East is characterized by desert climates, then will China, with its Gobi Desert, soon be in "the Middle East"?

**1923**

 * Turkey:** Founded by Mustafa Kemal, also known as Ataturk ("father of the Turks") after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and a three year war for independence. Nationalism had arisen through out the Ottoman Empire, which was not keeping up with social and technological developments in Europe. After World War I, forces led by Mustafa Kemal expelled French, Greek, Italian, and Russian forces. Gained full independence in 1923.

[|The Turkish Flag and the Turkish National Anthem] from the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For more, see [|CIA Factbook/Turkey] and [|United States Department of State]

1925*
sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ym.html http://arab.net/yemen/yn_britturk.htm
 * Yemen:** This nation has a questionable independence date. North Yemen had been ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1849 until 1917, when it gained independence. South Yemen was a protectorate of Britain. Britain controlled the port of Adeno since 1839. In 1925, Britain recognized South Yemen's independence, but did not withdraw from the area until 1967. Following the withdrawal, politicians developed Marxist policies. This caused tension between North and South Yemen. Both countries were finally unified as one in 1990 as the Republic of Yemen.

**1932**


sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/iz.html http://www.arab.net/iraq/iq_british.htm
 * Iraq:** Became a mandate of the United Nations after WWI, with administration belonging to Britain. Uprisings immediately began against the British. Attained independence in 1932 as a kingdom and was declared a republic in 1958. The country was ruled by strongmen until 2003, the last being Saddam Hussein. Now ruled by a tenuous coatition parliment, with true power held by the United States.

1933
sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sa.html http://www.arab.net/saudi/sa_abdulaziz.htm
 * Saudi Arabia:** Founded in 1932 by Abd Al-Azziz bin Abd Al-Rahman Al-Saud after more than 30 years of trying to unite the Arab peninsula. On September 2, 1933 declared the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

1943
sources: http://www.arab.net/lebanon/ln_ottoman.htm
 * Lebanon:** Was French mandate after World War I. France combined the coastal plain areas with a majority Muslim population with the mountainous areas that were predominately Christian to create the Republic of Lebanon. Became fully independent in 1943.

**1946**
sources: http://www.arab.net/jordan/jn_beforeww1.htm http://www.arab.net/jordan/jn_20thcentury.htm
 * Jordan:** Part of the Ottoman Empire until the Arab revolts from 1915-1918. In 1921, Emir Abdullah established the Emirate of Trans-Jordan as a self-governing territory under British mandate. In 1946 Emir Abdullah became king of Independent Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. A formal union between Jordan and the West Bank was established in 1951.

sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sy.html http://www.arab.net/syria/sy_empires.htm http://www.arab.net/syria/sy_republic.htm
 * Syria:** Given over to France after WWI in accordance to the Sykes-Picot agreement, even though independence had been promised. There was serious political instability following WWI and WWII. In 1944 there was an attempt to create a "Greater Syria" which would include Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. However, many feared that this would lead to a loss of Syrian national identity as the country became absorbed into the larger unified Arab state. Independence was achieved in 1946.

1948

 * Israel:** After World War II, the British gave up its rule over the area known as Palestine, and the region was divided into Arab and Jewish states by the United Nations, and Israel became a nation in 1948. Arab states never recognized the partition; in a 1967 war, Israel expanded its territory. In recent skirmishes, (2007) the ruling organization of the Palestinians in the region—Hamas—took control of the West Bank, previously controlled by Israel. Both the Gaza Strip on the southern border with Egypt along the Mediterranean Sea, and the West Bank, on Israel’s //eastern// border with Jordan, remain disputed areas.

**1961**
sources: http://www.arab.net/kuwait/kt_alsabah.htm
 * Kuwait:** On paper, was province of Ottoman Empire, but did not really act as such. Due to threats of invasion from the Turks, the Sheikh sought protection from Britain. Remained British protectorate until independence under Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah in 1961. When Iraq tried to make claims, again turned to British protection. Oil makes Kuwait a major trading center and extremely desirable.

the Kuwaiti flag

**1970**
sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mu.html http://www.arab.net/oman/on_20thcentury.htm
 * Oman:** Had treaties with and was dependent upon Britain. Was never actually a colony. In 1970, Qaboos bin Said al-Said overthrew his father Sultan Said bin Tiamur who had been British backed.

**1971**
sources: http://www.arab.net/qatar/qr_earlyhistory.htm http://www.arab.net/qatar/qr_turksbritish.htm http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5437.htm#history
 * Qatar:** Became a British protectorate in 1916. Britain announced in 1968 that it planned to withdraw from the Gulf. Nine Arab emirates, made up of Qatar, Bahrain, and the seven emirates in the UAE, planned on forming an Arab union of emirates. However, when Britain withdrew in 1971, the terms of the union had still not been decided. Qatar was declared an independent state on its own on September 3, 1971.

sources**:** http://www.arab.net/uae/ue_britain.htm http://www.arab.net/uae/ue_independence.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/737620.stm
 * United Arab Emirates:** Known as the "Pirate Coast" in the 19th century because of the pirates who inhabited the area. Britain had treaties with the areas that now make up the UAE in order to protect ships in the Gulf and Indian Ocean. Britain handled foreign relations for some of these areas because of the Perpetual Martime Truce signed in 1853. As Arab states and countries gained independence, seven states joined together to form the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 1971. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al Qaiwain make up the UAE. All have relative independence, but are governed by a Supreme Council. The Supreme Council is made up of seven emirs (representing the seven states). The area is now known for its oil reserves and its modern welfare system. Education, health care, and social services are currently provided to all citizens.

sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ba.html http://arab.net/bahrain/bn_preislam.htm
 * Bahrain:** Was British protectorate, but gained full independence in 1971. Is ruled by the Al-Khalifa royal family, which has been in control since driving the Persians out of the area in the 1780's.

the Bahraini flag

1979
(current government)
 * Iran:** First called Persia, then Iran, this nation has been independent, in various forms with changing borders, for over 2,000 years. It has not been occupied or ruled by a foreign government in modern times. Like China and Egypt, Persia/Iran is one of the world’s birthplaces of civilization. Known as Persia until 1935, and ruled as a monarchy with dynasties similar to China’s, the Shah (or king) was overthrown in 1979. A theocratic government was installed, following conservative Islamic law. There is a Supreme Leader, accountable to an Assembly of Experts; there is also a President. See a time line of Persian and Iranian history and art at http://www.metmuseum.org/TOAH/ht/05/wai/ht05wai.htm