Independence in the Middle East
I-Touch Learning Stations
Station 1: IRAN and RELIGION----“Iranian Revolution (Feb 1979)” 4.58
Directions: 1. Watch the video clip ALL the way THROUGH.
2. Watch the video clip a second time and ANSWER these questions.
3. Afterwards, answer the ‘ANALYZE THIS’ question.
I.
Who started this revolution? Who was this revolution directed against? What was the
goal of this revolution?
II.
Who was Ayatollah Khomeini? How did he unite the people?
III.
Because the Shah secluded himself, who took charge of the country visibly?
IV.
What did Khomeini demand soon after taking control?
V.
How did the people of Iran respond to their new leader?
ANALYZE THIS:
How does Iran use Islam to create a new national identity? Why was religion utilized to create a
national identity? Speculate how this national identity affected their success as a new nation in
the eyes of other nation around the world.
Station 2: TURKEY and SECULARISM---“Father of the Turks: pt. 1” (5.44-11.29)
Directions: 1. Watch the video clip and answer the following questions.
2. Read Ataturk’s Address to the Turkish Youth and answer the ‘ANALYZE THIS’
question.
I. How did Ataturk break from the past in regards to the legitimacy of Turkey’s
government and its’ leaders?
II.
Where should Turkish loyalties lie according to Ataturk?
III.
What was the goal of his reforms? List 3 of his reforms.
IV.
Why did Ataturk abolish the Arabic script? What did the Arabic script represent?
V.
What does “Ataturk” mean?
Atatürk's Address to the Turkish Youth,
http://www.turkishlanguage.co.uk/hitap.htm
Turkish youth!
Your first duty is to protect and preserve the Turkish independence and the Turkish Republic
forever. This is the very foundation of your existence and your future. This foundation is your
most precious treasure. In the future, too, there may be malevolent(showing harm) people at
home and abroad, who wish to deprive you of this treasure. If some day you are compelled to
defend your independence and your republic, you must not tarry to weigh the possibilities and
circumstances of the situation before taking up your duty. These possibilities and circumstances
may turn out to be extremely unfavourable. The enemies conspiring against your independence
and your Republic may have behind them a victory unprecedented in the annals of the world. By
violence and ruse, all the fortresses of your beloved fatherland may be captured, all its shipyards
may be occupied, all its armies may be dispersed and every part of the country may be invaded.
And sadder and graver than all these circumstances, those who hold power within the country
may be in error, misguided and may even be traitors. Furthermore, they may identify their
personal interests with the political designs of the invaders. The country may be impoverished,
ruined and exhausted.
ANALYZE THIS:
Why would a young Turkish citizen want to protect the secular aspects of their government and
country? What are the advantages of a secular society over a religious one?
Station 3: EGYPT and MILITARY CONTROL
Directions:
1. Read the INTRO.
2. Read the radio speech below and answer the following questions.
3. Answer the ANALYZE THIS question.
INTRO:
Arab Independence from the British started in Egypt, where in July 1952 a group of army
officers seized power of the government. Soon Arab nations were seizing independence out of
the rubble of the Ottoman Empire by expelling the British and the French. By the end of 1954,
Gamal Abdel Nasser had forced total withdrawal of the British in Egypt by June 1956 and set to
work to undermine Britain's position the Middle East. The United States moved into relations
with Iran, holding off the Soviets and taking British oil holdings. Only Cyprus and the Persian
Gulf oil ports remained under British control in the Middle East. Nasser's next move was to
destroy the link between Cyprus and the Persian Gulf. On July 26, 1956, he nationalized the
Suez Canal Company, taking it from Britain, thereby ending European control in the Middle
East.
On Wednesday morning, 23 July 1952, a military coup occurred in Egypt, carried out by The
"Free Officers" and led Gamal Abdel Nasser. At 7:30 a.m., the Egyptian people heard a
broadcast station issue the first communication of the revolution that stated the justification
for the revolution or the Blessed Movement. The voice everyone heard reading the message
belonged to Free Officer and future president of Egypt, Anwar El Sadat.
“Egypt has passed through a critical period in her recent history characterized by bribery,
mischief, and the absence of governmental stability. All of these were factors that had a large
influence on the army.
Those who accepted bribes … caused our defeat in the Palestine War [1948] {between Israel
and Arab people}. As for the period following the war… traitors have been commanding the
army. They appointed a commander who is either ignorant or corrupt.
Egypt has reached the point, therefore, of having no army to defend it. Accordingly, we have
undertaken to clean ourselves up and have appointed to command us men from within the
army whom we trust in their ability, their character, and their patriotism. It is certain that all
Egypt will meet this news with enthusiasm and will welcome it.
As for those…men formerly associated with the army, we will not deal harshly with them, but
will release them at the appropriate time. I assure the Egyptian people that the entire army
today has become capable of operating in the national interest and under the rule of the
constitution apart from any interests of its own.
Should anyone behave not in the interest of Egypt, he will be dealt with forcefully in a manner
such as has not been seen before and his deeds will meet immediately the reward for treason.
The army will take charge with the assistance of the police. I assure our foreign brothers that
their interests, their personal safety and their property are safe, and that the army considers
itself responsible for them.
May God grant us success.”
*On July 28, 1952, Muhammad Naguib became the first President of Egypt, which marked the
beginning of modern Egyptian governance.
Egypt.com 1996 -2008
I.
What justifications are given for the army taking control of Egypt?
II.
What does he assure the Egyptian people that the army will do? What clues are given as
to the form of government in the new nation of Egypt, are given in this speech?
ANALYZE THIS:
How does a military state, create a sense of unity?
Station 4: The Arab Spring
Directions:
1. Go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protestinteractive-timeline
2. Spend 3 minutes exploring the interactive timeline. (Miss Duff thinks it’s pretty
awesome.)
3. Answer the questions base off the timeline.
4. Answer the ANALYZE THIS question.
I. Using the timeline, what was the first protest of the Arab Spring? Where did this
happen?
II.
Using the timeline, what does the Egyptian government do on Feb 13, 2011 in
Egypt? Why would the Egyptian citizens not want the military to rule the
country?
III.
On March 4, 2011, who appoints Egypt’s new prime minister? Does the
government of Egypt really change?
IV.
According to the timeline, what occurs in Iran on Feb, 14, 2011?
V.
Using the timeline who is suppressing the anti-government demonstrations in
Iran? (March 13, 201)
ANALYZE THIS:
Did things really change in these two countries politically? Speculate how Islam in Iran and the
Military in Egypt played into these revolts? Why are there more protests occurring in Egypt
than Iran?