Contextualization

The Middle East is a region that has shaped the course of world history in various ways. After the end of World War I, the Middle East went through significant changes due to the redrawing of borders and the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire. This project aims to explore the historical context, reasons for these changes, and the impact they had on the nations and people of the Middle East.

The Middle East after World War I: Historical Context

At the end of World War I, the victorious Allied powers, in particular, Britain and France, sought to reorganize the world map according to their own interests. In doing so, they divided up the former Ottoman Empire, which had ruled over most of the Middle East for centuries. This division, however, took little heed of the region's complex ethnic and religious makeup, leading to the creation of modern-day states that continue to grapple with internal tensions to this day.

The Mandate System and the Creation of New States

Under the mandate system, the League of Nations granted Britain and France control over various territories in the Middle East, with the understanding that they would help these areas transition towards independence. In reality, however, this system often resulted in the creation of puppet states that served the interests of the colonial powers.

The mandates, which included modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, were not drawn along ethnic or religious lines, but rather according to the interests of the colonial powers. This has been a significant source of conflict in the region, as different groups within these states have often felt marginalized or excluded from political power.

The Impact: Conflicts and Struggles for Independence

The arbitrary borders drawn by the colonial powers have been a constant source of tension and conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, the struggle for independence from these powers has been a defining feature of the region's history since the end of World War I.

Understanding this historical context is crucial for comprehending the complexities of the modern Middle East, including the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the rise of extremist ideologies.

To begin your exploration, you can use the following resources:

1. "A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East" by David Fromkin.
2. "The Middle East: 1914-2016" by Peter Mansfield.
3. BBC - The Making of the Middle East
4. The Middle East: Conflict in Journalism

These resources provide a comprehensive overview of the topic and will aid in your understanding of the Middle East after World War I.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Reimagining the Middle East: A Role-Playing Game"

Objective of the Project:

The project aims to give students a deeper understanding of the historical events and their impact on the Middle East after World War I, through a role-playing game scenario where they will have to navigate the complexities of the post-war Middle East as different stakeholders.

Detailed Description of the Project:

In this project, groups of 3 to 5 students will come together to recreate the political landscape of the Middle East after World War I. Each group will be assigned a specific role, such as a British or French diplomat, a Middle Eastern leader, or a member of a minority group. The groups will then have to negotiate and collaborate to redraw the map of the Middle East, taking into account the interests and concerns of all stakeholders.

The project will be carried out over a period of one month, with each week dedicated to a different phase of the project: research, planning, negotiation, and presentation.

Necessary Materials:

• Access to library resources or internet for research
• Paper and pens for note-taking and planning
• A large map of the Middle East for the final presentation
• Colored markers for drawing on the map

Detailed Step-by-Step for Carrying out the Activity:

1. Research (Week 1): Each group will start by conducting research on their assigned role and the historical events surrounding the division of the Ottoman Empire. They should focus on understanding their role's interests, concerns, and goals in relation to the creation of new states in the Middle East.

2. Planning (Week 2): Based on their research, each group will develop a plan for how they will approach the negotiations. This plan should outline their goals, their strategy for achieving those goals, and their potential allies and opponents.

3. Negotiation (Week 3): The groups will come together for a series of negotiations, where they will have to present and defend their proposed borders. The goal of the negotiations is to reach a consensus on the new map of the Middle East.

4. Presentation (Week 4): Each group will present their final map and explain the reasons behind their decisions. This will be an opportunity for each group to demonstrate their understanding of the historical events and their impact on the Middle East.

Project Deliveries:

At the end of the project, each group will submit a written document that includes:

1. Introduction: A description of their assigned role and its historical context, as well as the objective of the project.
2. Development: Detailed discussion of the research conducted, the planning process, the negotiations, and the results. This section should also include an analysis of the impact of the decisions made during the game on the Middle East today.
3. Conclusion: A summary of the key learnings from the project and the conclusions drawn about the topic.
4. Bibliography: A list of all the resources used during the project, including books, articles, and web pages.

Through this activity, students will not only learn about the historical events and their impact on the Middle East but also develop important skills such as research, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.