The Middle East 1908–2011: Ottomans to Arab Spring

This topic covers the dramatic transformation of the Middle East from the twilight of the Ottoman Empire through the rise of nation-states, the impact of Western imperialism, the Cold War, the oil era, and the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. It is a story of collapsing empires, competing nationalisms, religious tensions, and the struggle for resources and identity. Students will explore key events such as the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the creation of Israel, the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Iranian Revolution, the Gulf Wars, and the 2011 protests that toppled long-standing regimes.

Understanding this period is crucial because it explains many of today's geopolitical conflicts, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the rise of political Islam, the role of oil in global politics, and the instability in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The topic also illustrates how external powers (Britain, France, the US, USSR) shaped the region, often with unintended consequences. For A-Level students, this is a rich case study in historical causation, change and continuity, and the interplay of ideology, economics, and power.

Within the OCR A-Level specification, this topic is part of the 'British Period Study and Enquiry' or 'Thematic Study' depending on your centre. It requires you to analyse primary sources, evaluate historiographical debates (e.g., the role of nationalism vs. imperialism), and construct arguments about long-term trends. Mastery of this topic will also help you understand modern global history, as the Middle East remains a central arena of international relations.