Iraq Timeline: Part III: "British Colonialism and Influence"

1916 AD The Western powers secretly meet to form the Sykes-Pikot Agreement, in which allied leaders determine how the Ottoman Empire of the Middle East will be divided between them once it is conquered during the battles of WWI. 1917 AD The Ottoman Empire collapses in the battles of World War I as British troops invade Mesopotamia and occupy the city of Baghdad. Britain promises Arab independence after the war, making a deal with Arab Nationalist Hussein ibn Ali, which leads many citizens in the empire to rise up against their Ottoman rulers, who have become increasingly oppressive during the last days of their reign over the region of the Middle East. Britain''s interest in Iraq, however, is more than military strategy; they have long coveted the oil resources known to lie beneath the soil. 1919 AD The Paris Peace conference convenes. As Arabs voice their desire for independence, the Western powers divide up the real estate of the Middle East. The borders of modern Iraq are drawn to fit with Britain''s colonial interests in the region. The haphazard political boundaries, though fulfilling England''s short term needs, inevitably contributes to later political conflicts in the region (the Iran-Iraq war and the invasion of Kuwait both are partially based on territorial disputes that arise from the "divide and conquer" strategy of the European colonizers). 1932 AD The British Mandate is officially terminated but this does not end the era of British influence over Iraq. The Monarchy, until its overthrow in 1958, continues close relations with the Western powers. 1953 AD 18 year old Faisal II ascends to the throne of the monarchy, though the true political power was wielded by his advisors. Faisal was educated in Britain and was more a product of British political, intellectual and cultural norms than he was a product of Iraqi society and he had little interest in the operations of his own kingdom. Like Iraqi kings before him he was accused of being the puppet of Western powers.