About Lesson
ii. Middle east
- Since the 14th century AD, the Ottoman Empire has ruled over the majority of Western Asia. The empire had a multi-racial, religious, and culturally diverse populace.
- It was difficult to rule such a large number of people without incident, but the Ottomans created an effective administrative structure that rewarded the meritorious and loyal, guaranteeing regional peace.
- However, this position changed following the end of World War I in the early twentieth century.
- The Sykes-Picot Agreement was an unofficial pact signed in 1916 by the United Kingdom and France, with approval from the Russian Empire and Italy, to outline mutually agreed-upon zones of influence and governance in the event of the Ottoman Empire’s split.
- The British- and French-controlled countries were divided by the Sykes-Picot line. The agreement allocated to Britain control of what is today southern Israel and Palestine, Jordan and southern Iraq, and an additional small area that included the ports of Haifa and Acre to allow access to the Mediterranean.