Empire of Sand: How Britain Shaped the Middle East

Empire of Sand: How Britain Shaped the Middle East

by WalterReid (Author)

Synopsis

At the end of the First World War the modern Middle East was created by Britain and France, who carved up the old Ottoman possessions with scant regard for the wishes of those who lived there. Frontiers were devised and alien dynasties imposed on the populations as arbitrarily as in mediaeval times. It was destined from the outset to failure. Promises had been made to the Arabs during the War, but were not honoured, and brief hopes for Arab unity were dashed, leading to a bitter belief in western perfidy that persists to the present day. Britain was quick to see the riches promised by the black pools of oil that lay on the ground around Baghdad, and when France too grasped their importance, bitter differences opened up between the two allies, and the areas became a focus of a return to the traditional enmity between them.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
Published: 04 Aug 2011

ISBN 10: 1843410532
ISBN 13: 9781843410539

Media Reviews
'[An] impeccably researched book' - The Herald 'Structured in an accessible and intelligent way [...] Empire of Sand is a useful, meticulously written introduction to a complex history, of direct relevance to our own times [...] well researched, well planned, and overall a useful addition to the literature on this subject' - Journal of Israeli Foreign Affairs 'Extremely well written and enjoyable to read' - European Review of History
Author Bio
Walter Reid studied at the universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, and has written a number of highly acclaimed works of military history: Arras, 1917 (new edn. Birlinn 2011), Architect of Victory: Douglas Haig (Birlinn 2006) and Churchill 1940 -1945: Under Friendly Fire (Birlinn, 2008).