The History of the Middle East Part 2

1. The History of the Middle East Part 2 Mr. Apt Sandy Run Middle School 8th Grade Social Studies

2. Rise of Christianity • As the Roman Empire expanded, so did the influence of the new Monotheistic tradition of Christianity. • Spread through conversion, Christianity separated itself from the Kingdom of Judea. • Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. Jewish Temple torn down and left in ruins. • Early advocates of Christianity wrote letters to different Roman provinces in order to spread their new beliefs. • Christians and Jews were heavily persecuted by Romans. Arabs also lived under occupation.

3. Constantine and the Council of Nicaea • The Emperor of Rome in 305-337 C.E • Declared the spot of Jesus’ death in Jerusalem a holy place, and built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as a monument on the site of the crucifixion. • 313- Constantine makes Christianity legal in the Roman Empire with the Edict of Milan • 325 C.E.- Council of Nicaea, protocol for converting gentiles, as well as creating a framework for the existence of Christianity in the Empire. • 380 C.E.- Emperor Theodosius I declares Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire. • Christianity establishes powerbase in Europe, Church in Rome, most European kings become Christian.

5. The Byzantines • In 285 C.E. the Roman Empire was divided in half to make it easier to manage. • Constantine establishes a capital for the Eastern half in Turkey in modern day Istanbul called “Constantinople” which was later known as Byzantium. • The Byzantines eventually become the Ottoman Empire, and this particular faction rule the Middle East until 1948 C.E. • Byzantine rule was predominantly Christian, and the Middle East was often referred to as the “Holy Land” • Efforts were made to separate Christianity and Judaism even more.

7. The Rise of Islam: End of Occupation • 610 C.E.- Prophet Muhammad receives his revelation and spreads his own message to local Middle Eastern populations. • 632 C.E.- Muhammad dies, sparking civil war. Islam as a religion is born. Caliphates argue about how to proceed. • Financial problems allowed the early Muslims to conquer Byzantine cities in the Middle East. • Under Islamic law, Jews, Christians, and gentiles living in occupation could practice freely provided they could pay taxes. • Established Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem as holy cities for all Muslims.

8. Islam as a World Power • Islam quickly consolidated power in the Middle East for 500 hundred years. • Innovation and self reliance return to the region, with Egypt and Syria taking a leading role in development of architecture. • Establishes trade relationships with both West and East, and reestablishes Middle East as self governing and self reliant. • In Islamic countries, religious tolerance was practiced, as they recognized the legitimacy of both Judaism and Christianity. • All polytheistic religions west of India essentially eliminated.

10. East Meets West: The Crusades • 1095 C.E., Pope Urban II organizes first of several attempts by European powers to conquer Middle East once again. • 1099 C.E. Jerusalem is captured by Crusaders, and kingdom of Jerusalem established. • 1191 C.E. Muslim armies lead by Egyptian emperor Saladin, recapture Jerusalem. • Several crusades were called between 11th and 15th Century. Christians and Muslims fought several wars against each other for control of different parts of Middle East and North Africa.

11. Rise of Modernity • The Age of Exploration in Europe and rise of Nation States ended the powerbase of the Church, ending religious war in the region. • Ottoman Turks maintain control of the Middle East, acting as last remnants of old Roman Empire. • European archeologists and explorers begin excavating ruins in Middle East searching for treasures. • End of Ottoman Empire stagnant, with few innovations being created in Middle East.

12. Modernity Continued • European nationalism leads to competition between English and French archeologists. • After the American and French Revolutions, Britain and France send state sanctioned excavations for historical study instead of treasure hunting. • Several archeological finds are made from earlier Middle Eastern civilizations including Rosetta Stone, Hammurabi’s Code, and thousands of Egyptian, Judean, Babylonian, Persian, and Roman ruins.

13. 19th Century • Ottoman Empire is weakening due to pressure from Europe due to rising levels of nationalism. • Internal efforts by several Arabic countries to negotiate independence begin to occur with talks with European powers. Egypt, Syria, and Iraq emerge as regional powers. • European mining efforts and chemistry innovations lead to development of petroleum based fuels. Mining efforts in Middle East begin in latter half of 19th Century. Oil considered valuable resource. • Saudi Arabia still largest oil supplier in the world. • Jewish efforts to reclaim control of their ancestral homeland lead to the establishment of Zionism as a national movement in Europe.

14. 20th Century: Fall of Ottoman Empire • Nationalism in Europe erupts into war in 1914. • Ottoman Turks side with Germany against Britain and France. • At war’s end, Ottomans are disbanded, and British and French colonies are established in many countries in the region. • Arab and Jewish efforts to consolidate power in the region lead to armed conflicts. • European attempts to establish independent states prove difficult due to lack of structure in the region. • Great Depression in 1920s affects European foreign policy.

15. World War II and Beyond: • The second world war forced Europe’s hand in their policy towards Middle East. • Immigration to different countries slowed dramatically in order to stop uprisings in several countries including British Mandate of Palestine. • European refugees escaping war seek refuge in these areas, heightening the problem. • End of the War sees development and ultimate establishment of nation states in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon. • Israel is the only non Arabic or Muslim country established the region.

16. What Happens Next: • To Be Continued Next Week!