Fall of Empires
Independence ofIndia, Pakistan, and Israel
What happened to Britain and France during the WWII?
What two countries become the Super Powers during the Cold War?
What happened as a result of the fall of Great Britain and France?
France and Britain are in Ruins
The former empires can no longer afford to keep their colonies
Britain will lose: South Africa; Egypt; India; Palestine
Partition (Separation) of India
Who was this man? What was he doing in India? What were some of his principles?
Hindu Congress
Mohandas K. Gandhi Jawaharlal Nehru
Muslim League
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Desired a separate state for Muslims
• Why do you think Muslims wanted a country of their own?
Who made up the majority religious group in British India?
British India
1947 Independence of India and Pakistan
India – Majority Hindus
Pakistan – Majority Muslims
Nehru first Prime Minister of India Jinnah First Governor General of Pakistan
Sikhs and Hindus were forced out of their homes in Pakistan
Muslims were forced out of their homes in India
People lost their homes
Refugee
Poverty and crime
Massacres and Violence
Do you think the violence could have been avoided? Why or why not? Please explain your answer
Continuing Conflict and Rivalry
Birth of Israel
Discussion Questions
Traditionally where were the Jews from?
What happened to the Jews throughout history?
Do you think the conflicts in the Middle east is primarily that of religious conflicts? Explain your answer
Religion in the Middle EastSimilaritiesChristianity Judaism
Islam
Religion in the Middle EastOne God – monotheisticPrayerHoly bookPilgrimageProphetsCharityFasting
ChristianityJesus is the Son of God
JudaismStill waiting for the Messiah or Savior
IslamMuhammad is the last prophet God has sent to earth
Background of Palestine• Jews migrated and established their
kingdom of Israel around 1300 BC• Romans takeover the Jerusalem 63 AD
– Jewish Revolt 66 AD (Crushed by the Romans)
– Diaspora • In Europe Jewish population suffered
discrimination– Anti-Semitism
• Zionism – Movement that desired to build a Jewish state in the territories of Palestine
Background of Palestine
• Balfour Declaration British promise to create a Jewish homeland after WWIo Support from European
Jews• Palestinians (modern
native people of the region) rejected the Balfour Declaration.
Holocaust
United Nations• Created Israel to
redress their suffering in WWII• No Palestinian
representation at the meeting• All Islamic countries
rejected the creation of Israel—series of wars and conflicts
Nakba
1948 Palestinian exodus, known in Arabic as the Nakba
Refugees
Gaza Strip
West Bank
Israel set up sanctions on Gaza -- Poverty
Some Palestinians have resorted to Terrorism
Conflict in the Middle East
• 2014 Gaza War • 2008 Gaza War• 2006 Israel-Lebanon War• 2000 Al-Aqsa Intifada• 1987 - 1993 Intifada• 1982 Lebanon War• 1973 "Yom Kippur" War• 1970 Black September• 1970 War of Attrition• 1967 "Six Day" War
Discussion Questions Continued
• Would you be able to live where your family members were murdered in cold blood, where you were hated for centuries?
• How would you feel if your home and land was given to somebody else?
• Could the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been avoided? What could the British and the UN could have done better?
• Is the conflict in the middle east that of religion or land?