The document summarizes the formation of the modern Middle East after World War 1 and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The British and French divided up the former Ottoman lands with little regard for ethnic and religious groups, creating problems that still exist today. Oil discoveries led Western powers to vie for influence in the region. The creation of Israel in 1948 further inflamed tensions and conflicts. The Cold War saw the US and USSR backing different sides, and nationalist and religious movements challenged pro-Western governments across the Middle East.
![The Middle East in WWI: The Ottoman Empire ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)