MIDDLE EAST HISTORY

The middle east has seen many of

the world’s oldest cultures and
civilizations. This history started from
the earliest human settlements,
continuing through several major pre
and post Islamic empires through to
the nation- states of the middle east
today.
 Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under
the first pharaoh. Mesopotmia was home to several powerful empires that came to rule almost the entire
Middle East.
 Large parts of the Middle East became a warground between the Ottomans and Iranian Safavids for centuries
starting in the early 16th century.
 During the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, Syria and Egypt made moves towards independence. The British, the
French, and the Soviets departed from many parts of the Middle East during and after World War II (1939–
1945). The struggle between the Arabs and the Jews in Palestine culminated in the 1947 United Nations plan
to partition Palestine.
The ancient Near East -was the first to practice intensive year-round agriculture and currency-mediated trade (as
opposed to barter), gave the rest of the world the first writing system, invented the potter's wheel and then the
vehicular and mill wheel, created the first centralized governments and law codes, served as birthplace to the first
city-states with their high degree of division of labor, as well as laying the foundation for the fields
of astronomy and mathematics.
Cradle of civilization, Sumer and Akkad
 The earliest civilizations in history were established in the region now known as the Middle East around 3500
BC by the Sumerians, in Mesopotamia (Iraq), widely regarded as the cradle of civilization.
Medieval Middle East
 Pre-Islam
 In the 5th century, the Middle East was separated into small, weak states; the two most prominent were
the Sasanian Empire of the Persians in what is now Iran and Iraq, and the Byzantine Empire in Anatolia (modern-
day Turkey). The Byzantines and Sasanians fought with each other a reflection of the rivalry between the Roman
Empire and the Persian Empire seen during the previous five hundred years.
Early Modern Near East
 The Safavid Empire was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Middle East.[30] The Safavid shahs ruled
over one of the Gunpowder Empires.[31] They ruled one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim
conquest of Iran,[32][33][34][35] and established the Twelver school of Shia Islam as the official religion of the
empire,[36] marking one of the most important turning points in Muslim history.
The Ottoman Empire (1299–1918)
 The Ottomans united the whole region under one ruler for the first time since the reign of the Abbasid caliphs of the
10th century, and they kept control of it for 400 years, despite brief intermissions created by the Iranian Safavids
and Afsharids.[57] By this time the Ottomans also held Greece, the Balkans, and most of Hungary, setting the new
frontier between east and west far to the north of the Danube.
Modern Middle East
Final years of the Ottoman Empire
 In 1878, as the result of the Cyprus Convention, the United Kingdom took over the government of Cyprus as a
protectorate from the Ottoman Empire. While the Cypriots at first welcomed British rule, hoping that they would
gradually achieve prosperity, democracy and national liberation, they soon became disillusioned. The British
imposed heavy taxes to cover the compensation they paid to the Sultan for conceding Cyprus to them.
World War I
 In 1914, Enver Pasha's alliance with Germany led the Ottoman Empire into the fatal step of joining Germany
and Austria-Hungary in World War I, against Britain and France. The British saw the Ottomans as the weak
link in the enemy alliance, and concentrated on knocking them out of the war.
Ottoman defeat and partition (1918–22)
 When the Ottoman Empire was defeated by an Arab uprising and the British forces after the Sinai and
Palestine Campaign in 1918, the Arab population did not get what it wanted. Islamic activists of more recent
times have described as an Anglo-French betrayal. British and French governments concluded a secret treaty
(the Sykes–Picot Agreement) to partition the Middle East between them.
New states after World War II
The struggle between the Arabs and the Jews in Palestine culminated in the 1947 United Nations plan to partition
Palestine. This plan sought to create an Arab state and a separate Jewish state in the narrow space between
the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. The Jewish leaders accepted it, but the Arab leaders rejected this plan.
Modern states
 The modern Middle East was shaped by three things: departure of European powers, the founding of Israel, and
the growing importance of the oil industry. These developments led increased U.S. involvement in Middle East.
The United States was the ultimate guarantor of the region's stability as well as the dominant force in the oil
industry after the 1950s.
1990s–present
 In most Middle Eastern countries, the growth of market economies was said to be limited by political restrictions,
corruption, and cronyism, overspending on arms and prestige projects and over-dependence on oil revenues.
 At the beginning of the 21st century, all these factors intensified conflict in the Middle East, which affected the
entire world. Bill Clinton's failed attempt to broker a peace deal between Israel and Palestine at the Camp David
Summit in 2000 led directly to the election of Ariel Sharon as Prime Minister of Israel and to the Second Intifada,
which conducted suicide bombings on Israeli civilians.
MIDDLE EAST SCIENTIST
ABU- NASR AL-FARABI (872 - 950)
Also known as Alpharabius. Arab scientist and philosopher,
considered as one of the preeminent thinkers of medieval era.

AL-BATTANI (858 – 929)

Also known as Albatenius. Arab mathematician, scientist and
astronomer who improved existing values for the length of the year and of the
seasons.

IBN SINA (980 – 1037)

also known as Avicenna. Persian philosopher and scientist
known for his contributions to Aristotelian philosophy and medicine.

IBN RUSHD (1126 -1198)

Also known as Averroes. Arab philosopher and scholar who produced
a series of summaries and commentaries on most of Aristotle’s works and on Plato’s
Republic.

ABU BAKR AL-RAZI (865 – 925)

Also known as Rhazes. Persian alchemist and philosopher, who
was one of the greatest physicians in history.
The Middle East Contributed To Western Civilization

Despites years of uneasy alliances and eruptions of brutal

violence stretching back to the crusades, the west has had an
often very fruitful relationship with the middles east and Arab
world at large. Throughout history the Middle East has
contributed to western civilization, as great Middle Eastern
advancements an Arab innovation made their way through
trades routes and cultural exchange into Europe.
ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY INFLUENCED INTERNATIONAL AND HUMANITARIAN LAW
Abu bakr holds an esteemed place in the Islamic faith. He helped lay the groundwork for the humane
treatment of prisoners and civilians in war, which orders came directly from wisdom imparted in the teachings
of Muhammad. While preparing to invade Syria in the 7th century, Abu bakr instructed soldiers not to hurt
women and children.

ISLAM GAVE BIRTH TO MODERN HOSPITALS

The secular Al-Fustat hospital in what is now old Cairo was not have been the greatest of its time as well
as being ahead of its time in several aspects. Al-Fustat grew in size to include several wards, each devoted to
different diseases and ailments. The hospital was fully staffed with doctors, surgeon and their support staff and
treatment was open to men and women.

THE FIRST MODERN, SECULAR UNIVERSITY WAS FOUNDED IN MOROCCO BY WOMEN

Education, specially in Islam plays a huge role in society because its importance is emphasized in holy
scripture. Often, the post-classical period of history is mistakenly thought to be perpetually dark and chaotic,
but because of the emphasis on learning, many Muslim scholars took it upon themselves to fin and preserve
knowledge from ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, and Mesopotamia.
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