In this series, we are discussing the events of World War I that led to the partition of the Ottoman Empire.
This is episode 5-18: Arabs and Ottomans.
Before we get into the episode, let’s do a brief recap of where we are so far:
- Throughout much of 1915, the British had been trying to convince Sharif Hussein to revolt against the Ottomans
- While the British made vague promises to Sharif Hussein, they also made secret deals with the French for the same territory
- Still unwilling to devote resources to the middle east, the Allies hoped an Arab Revolt might lead to a quick victory
- The Allies weren’t doing well in the Middle East having been defeated at Gallipoli and Kut al-Amara
- Much of the blame for Britain’s failures fell on Herbert Horatio Kitchener, the British Minister of War
And with that, let’s begin our discussion of the Arab Revolt.
Nationalism and World War I
Nationalism was the primary force that led to the tragedy known as World War I.
There are many definitions for nationalism, but the one I believe most fits this story is: exaggerated, passionate, or fanatical devotion to a national community.