Origins of problems in the Middle East Flashcards
1
Q
Weaknesses of the Ottoman Empire
A
- they had weak leaders
- ottoman empire stopped expanding which led to the supply of soldiers declining
2
Q
British interest
A
- Middle East is their route to their empire in India and hong kong and Singapore
- needed to protect and control the Suez canal and persian gulf
3
Q
French interest
A
connections with Christian communities
4
Q
Russian interest
A
- wanted oil
- wanted to pressure the British
5
Q
Arab claims
A
middle east important because of holy lands
6
Q
Britain and Oil
A
dependent on it during WW1 - navy ran on it
7
Q
US and Oil
A
- gained control of oil companies when they started
- preserving the flow of oil were among their political-economic concerns
8
Q
issues
A
- cultural and ethnic divisions
- power vacuum created by breakup of Ottoman Empire
- Intervention by US, USSR and Britain
