Post-Ottoman Syria and Turkey | IHP 6-2

The story of the Resistance and Transformation of the Post-Ottoman Levant and Anatolia is a gripping tale of broken promises and revolutionary fire. In the wake of World War I, the people of the Middle East found themselves at a crossroads between newfound identity and European colonial ambitions. This episode explores the Etymological and Historical Identity of Syria, tracing the roots of $Bilad \; al-Sham$ and the borders that defined a region.

We delve into the Betrayal of Arab Independence, where Prince Faisal’s dreams of a sovereign kingdom clashed with the cold reality of the Sykes-Picot agreement. Meanwhile, in the north, we witness the Rise of Turkish Nationalist Resistance as Mustafa Kemal Pasha defies both the Allies and the Sultan to forge a new path for Turkey. Through the lens of Diplomatic Maneuvering and Colonial Mandates, we examine how the San Remo Conference and the Treaty of Sèvres redesigned the map.

Finally, we recount the tragic Military Conflict and the Fall of the Arab Kingdom, leading to the exile of Faisal and the birth of the modern mandate system. Join us as we uncover the events that shaped the modern borders of the Middle East.