Arab uprising

Abstract

With an influx of refugees from the Middle East and Syria in particular it is important to understand their recent history so as to familiarize our audience with historical context that helped shape the contemporary conflict. The article is composed of an accessible and non-formalized narrative of the so called ‘Arab revolt’ where Arab rebels sided with the Entente forces in a bid to gain independence from the Ottomans on the side of the Central powers. Their bid was ultimately betrayed as the war ended with colonization from the their former allies - the French and the British. This betrayal is still very much alive and fueling the modern conflict and general distrust of the West. The Great War fundamentally changed the Middle East much more than the second war though its effect and aftermath are for the greater part unfamiliar to the general public. The article aims at adding the ‘Middle East’ piece to the general imaginarium pertaining the First World War.