Arab Nationalism and the Nahda Movement

Arab Nationalism & The Nahda

• The idea of Arab nationalism emerged from the Nahda, a cultural and intellectual renaissance movement.
• The Nahda emphasized the shared linguistic, historical, cultural, and spiritual ties of Arabs.
• Christian communities played a significant role in the early stages of Arab nationalism, promoting the revival of the Arabic language and culture.

Fall of the Ottoman Empire & the UN Mandate System

• During World War I, the Ottoman Empire allied with Germany against Russia.
• The Ottoman Empire's goals included breaking free from European control, reclaiming lost territories, and unifying Turkish-speaking populations.
• The Ottoman Empire was eventually defeated and dissolved, leading to a new regional order.

British & Arab Uprisings

• The British pursued a dual policy in the Arabian Peninsula:
  • Negotiating with Ibn Saud, ruler of the Najd region, to secure his support in the war and prevent Ottoman army supply lines.
  • Negotiating with Sharif Hussein of Mecca to undermine Islamic solidarity, through the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence.
• The British promised an independent Arab kingdom for the Hashemite dynasty in exchange for their support against the Ottomans.

Peace Agreements & Mandate Regimes

• The Treaty of Sevres (1920) outlined the establishment of French and British mandates over Syria and Lebanon, and Iraq and Palestine, respectively.
• The Treaty of Sevres also included the Balfour Declaration, which called for the creation of a Jewish national homeland in Palestine.

The Treaty of Lausanne

• The Treaty of Lausanne (1923) formally dissolved the Ottoman Empire.
• Turkey retained control over Anatolia and some Kurdish territories.
• The treaty also led to the persecution of Armenian communities.

Implementation of Peace Agreements in Arab Areas

France and the Middle East

• France established a mandate over Syria and Lebanon.
• France divided Syria into separate state entities and encouraged ethnic and religious divisions to suppress Syrian national identity.
• Lebanon was declared independent in 1926 but remained under French occupation until 1946.

UK and the Middle East

• Britain granted the Kingdom of Iraq to Emir Faisal in 1921.
• Britain established a mandate over Palestine and Transjordan.
• Transjordan was excluded from the Balfour Declaration, leading to tension between Arab and Jewish interests in the region.
• After World War I, five new states emerged in the Middle East: Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Iraq, and Palestine.

Arab Independence in the Arabian Peninsula

• Yemen gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1918.
• Ibn Saud consolidated his control over most of the Arabian Peninsula, becoming King of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
• The discovery of oil in 1933 played a major role in Saudi Arabia's economic development.