Contextualization

Introduction

The First World War (WWI) caused massive changes in the political and territorial landscape of the world, and the Middle East was no exception. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire, which was one of the Central Powers, led to the division of its territories among the victorious Allies. This project aims to delve deep into the post-WWI Middle East and understand the origins of the modern states of the region.

The Treaty of Sèvres, signed in 1920, played a vital role in redrawing the map of the Middle East. It dismantled the Ottoman Empire, creating new nations such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, while placing several of its territories under the control of Britain and France, the main Allies. However, this reconfiguration of borders often ignored the ethnic, religious, and tribal divisions, setting the stage for many conflicts that persist to this day.

The Historical Context

The post-WWI Middle East was not only shaped by external forces but also by complex internal dynamics. The Arab Revolt, led by figures like T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), against the Ottoman Empire, created a sense of Arab nationalism that influenced the aspirations of the people in the region. However, these aspirations were not fully realized due to the European powers' interests in the area, as exemplified by the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

The Sykes-Picot Agreement, secretly signed by Britain and France in 1916 and later endorsed by Russia, sought to divide the Ottoman territories in the Middle East into spheres of influence. The agreement largely disregarded the ethnic and religious diversity of the region, leading to a legacy of tensions and conflicts that are still seen today.

Resources

To understand the complex post-WWI Middle East, you can use the following resources:

1. BBC's "The Middle East: The Birth of Nations" - detailed article
2. The Treaty of Sèvres on the Avalon Project at Yale Law School
3. The Sykes-Picot Agreement on the Avalon Project at Yale Law School
4. A History of the Modern Middle East by William L. Cleveland and Martin Bunton - book
5. Crash Course's "World History: World War I and the Middle East" - educational video

Please note that these resources are just a starting point. You are encouraged to delve deeper into the subject and use additional sources to enhance your understanding.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Reconstructing the Middle East: A Simulation of Post-WWI Diplomacy"

Objective:

The objective of this activity is for students to better understand the complex decisions and compromises that post-WWI diplomats had to make in shaping the modern Middle East. Through a simulated negotiation, students will experience the challenges of balancing competing interests, historical grievances, and the realities of the region.

Description:

Students will be divided into three groups, each representing a major party involved in the post-WWI negotiations: the Allied Powers (Britain and France), the Arab nationalists, and the Kurdish representatives. Each group will be given a set of objectives and constraints based on the historical context. The groups will then engage in a simulation, trying to negotiate a new map of the Middle East that satisfies their respective interests. The simulation will be guided by the actual documents, agreements, and events that took place after WWI.

Necessary Materials:

1. Historical resources mentioned in the introduction.
2. Large map of the Middle East.
3. Colored markers.
4. Notebooks and pens for note-taking.

Detailed Step-by-Step:

1. Divide students into three groups: Allied Powers, Arab nationalists, and Kurdish representatives.
2. Each group should research their respective roles using the provided historical resources and prepare a brief presentation outlining their key objectives and historical context.
3. As a class, review the actual events that took place after WWI and the decisions that were made.
4. Distribute a large map of the Middle East to each group. Using the colored markers, each group should start by drawing their ideal borders for their respective territories.
5. Then, students will engage in a negotiation simulation, trying to convince the other groups to agree to their proposed borders.
6. Each group should take notes during the negotiation process, capturing the main points of the discussions and the reasons behind the decisions.
7. After a reasonable amount of time, the negotiations will come to a close, and each group will present their final map to the class, explaining the reasoning behind their decisions.
8. The class will then compare the different maps and discuss the compromises and challenges faced by the negotiators.

Project Deliveries:

At the end of the activity, each group will be responsible for the delivery of a detailed report. The report should include the following sections:

1. Introduction: A brief historical context of the post-WWI Middle East, highlighting the parties involved and the main issues at stake.
2. Development: Detailed discussion of the simulation, including the objectives of their group, the main points of the negotiations, the challenges faced, and the compromises made. This should be supported by references to actual historical events and agreements.
3. Conclusion: Reflection on the outcomes of the simulation, what they learned from the process, and how it deepened their understanding of the post-WWI Middle East.
4. Bibliography: List of resources used to prepare for the simulation and write the report.

Remember, this is not just a history lesson. It's a lesson in diplomacy, compromise, and understanding the complexities of a situation. So, be prepared to think like a historian, a politician, and a peacemaker!