Origins of Middle East Conflict

1. Crimean War

1.1. The Crimean War was a military conflict, resulting in the Russian Empire losing to an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain and Sardinia. Due to the war, the Congress of Vienna that declared peace was shattered and religious quarrels were created.

2. Ottoman Empire

2.1. The Ottoman Empire was an empire founded at the end of the 13th century. It was a powerful form of leadership that preserved foreign relations with France and Britain. However, the Ottoman Empire eventually collapsed and caused unification of Islamic world to diminish.

3. Arab Revolt

3.1. The main aim of the Arab Revolt was to obtain independence from the command of Ottoman Turks and create a single united Arab state. After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, the British promised their support to the Arab nationalism and independence. But, they did not keep their promise, which resulted in major conflict.

4. ARABS

5. JEWS

6. T.E. Lawrence

6.1. "Lawrence of Arab" served in the British military, became involved in Middle Eastern affairs, and played a key role in the Great Arab Revolt. He supported Arab nationalism, despite his goal to refuse Arab independence.

7. Suez Canal

7.1. The Suez Canal was a waterway in Europe that offered a shorter journey, avoiding the South Atlantic and Southern Indian Oceans. The advancement of the Suez canal caused the Suez crisis, which was caused by the American and British decision not to finance Egypt’s construction of the Aswan High Dam.

8. Sykes-Picot Agreement

8.1. The Sykes-Picot agreement was a secret agreement between the United Kingdom and France that defined their mutually agreed spheres of influence. Overall, this put them into conflict with the Arab nationalists that helped the British to fight the Ottoman Empire. The goal was to aim for independence.

9. Balfour Declaration

9.1. The Balfour Declaration was a letter from the United Kingdom to the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. The British government pledged support for Zionism and promised hope for Jews in Palestine. This put the British and the Jews into conflict.

10. Zionism

10.1. Zionism is basically the protection of Jews and of a Jewish nation, that is now Israel. The Jews and the Arabs fought over Palestine. They differed in their biblical beliefs, but the main area of conflict occurred when the Jews wanted to declare a state of their own in Palestine.

11. EUROPEANS