Sir Henry McMahon, British High Commission to Egypt, begins a deliberately vague series of letters with Sharif Hussein of Mecca.
5-13: France And Syria
The British have a problem as they can’t keep their promises to Sharif Hussein and the French at the same time.
5-12: Al-Faruqi And the Arabs
To deal with the growing importance of the Middle East, the British create a new department called the Arab Bureau.
5-11: Gallipoli And Stalemate
The British landing at Gallipoli goes from bad to worse.
5-10: Gallipoli and Istanbul
The British expect an easy victory on Gallipoli. But the Ottomans are not done fighting.
5-9: Sir Mark Sykes And Arabia
With Britain advancing on the Dardanelles, Russia is concerned they’ll lose their claim to Istanbul. Meanwhile, a young British politician […]
5-8: The British And The Dardanelles
The British and other European powers are locked in a stalemate on the western front. The British are looking for a way to break through.
5-7: Sarakamish And Suez
The Young Turks are ruining the Ottoman Empire both at home and on the battlefield.
5-6: India And Mecca
Sharif Hussein ibn Ali has his hands full. He has to outmaneuver several adversaries including the Young Turks, Arab nationalists, and the growing threat to the east under Abdul Aziz ibn Saud.
5-4: Lord Kitchener And Britain
Lord Kitchener is the British Secretary of War, but he’d much rather be in Egypt. He and his British counterparts in the Middle East believe they understand their Arab and Muslim subjects. This false assumption starts Kitchener on a dark path.