Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 05/27/97
HIS277 19976-20086	LEC	3 Credit(s)	3 Period(s)
The Modern Middle East
Survey of the political and economic development of the Middle East since 1500. Emphasis on the decline of the Moslem empire, the resurgence of contemporary Pan-Arabian, the Palestinian-Israeli question and the impact of oil production on the region and the rest of the world. Prerequisites: None.

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
HIS277   19976-20086	The Modern Middle East

1.	Identify and locate on a map the principle geographic features and nations of the Middle East. (I)
2.	Describe the impact of Islam on the Middle East. (II)
3.	Trace the history of the Middle East during the last half of the nineteenth century. (III, IV, V)
4.	List and explain the forces which led to the formation of the Zionist Movement. (VI, VII)
5.	List and explain the forces which led to the rise of Arab nationalism in the 20th Century. (VIII)
6.	Compare and contrast the roles of the United States and the Soviet Union in the Middle East during the Cold War. (IX, X, XI, XII)
7.	List the reasons that 1955 is considered the pivotal year in the Middle East. (X)
8.	Compare and contrast the roles of the Middle East belligerents and the major powers in the Sinai-Suez Ware of 1956. (XI)
9.	List and explain Arab attempts at unity. (XIII)
10.	List and explain the forces at work on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Persian Gulf region. (XIV, XV, XVI)
11.	Describe the major forces in the Six Day War of 1967. (XIX)
12.	Describe the rise of Palestinian nationalism. (XXI)
13.	Identify and explain the forces that led to the movement toward Arab-Israeli peace in the Middle East. (XXV)
14.	Identify and explain the forces at work in Yemen that lead to the Yemeni Civil Ware of 1962-1970 and the subsequent unity with the Democratic People's Republic of (South) Yemen. (XVII)
15.	Describe modern Israel today, including its peoples, society, and problems. (XVIII)
16.	Describe the major forces that contributed to the 1000 Day Egypt-Israel War of Attrition of 1967-1970. (XX)
17.	Explain how Libya became a player in modern Middle East affairs. (XXII)
18.	Describe the factors that led to the Yom Kippur/Ramadan Arab- Israeli War of October 1973. (XXIII)
19.	Identify and explain the reasons Lebanon was plunged into civil war, 1975-1990. (XXIV)
20.	Describe the major factors that contributed to the Israeli- PLO War in Lebanon of June 1982. (XXVI)
21.	Explain the causes and events of the Palestinian Intifada. (XXVII)
22.	Describe the major events and forces in the Persian Gulf War of 1991. (XXVIII)
23.	List and describe steps taken to promote Arab-Israeli Peace since 1979. (XXIX)
24.	Explain predictions for the future throughout the Middle East. (XXX)

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
HIS277   19976-20086	The Modern Middle East

I. Geography of the Middle East II. The Role of Islam in the Middle East and Beyond III. The Ottoman Empire and the Middle East A. Historic background B. European imperialism in the modern Middle East C. Nationalism awakened IV. World War I and its Effect on the Middle East A. Secret Allied deals and their ramifications B. Allied promises to the subject people of the region: Armenians, Jews, Arabs and Kurds V. The Inter-War Period: 1919-1939 A. Modernization and Westernization of Turkey B. American interests in the region C. The rising tide of nationalism in the region VI. The Middle East Core A. The Zionist Movement B. The role of Great Britain in Mandatory Palestine C. Arab-Jewish cooperation vs. Arab-Jewish hostility D. Patterns of violence and counter-violence: 19920-1939 E. The White Paper of 1939 F. World War II in the Middle East G. The Holocaust H. The three way conflict: 1945-1947 I. U.S. involvement in the Palestine question J. The role of the United Nations in the Palestine question K. Partition L. There-establishment of Israel and the First Arab-Israeli War: 1947-1949 VII. Arab-Israeli Relations: 1949-1955 A. Doctrine of limited liability war B. Insecure borders C. The Arab boycott D. The twin refugee problem: Arab and Jewish E. Divided Jerusalem F. The navigation problem: the Suez Canal and Straits of Tiran G. Attempts at peace H. The role of the Great Powers: 1949-1955 I. Diversion of the Jordan River scheme J. The role of the United Nations K. Continued violence and reprisals VIII. The Rise of Modern Arab Nationalism A. The Baathists and their aims B. The concept of Pan-Arabism C. The Rise of Gamal and Abd el-Nasser D. Egypt's dominant role in the Arab World E. The Egyptian Revolution of 1952 F. Nasser's program G. The "Game of Nations" IX. United States Concern for the Middle East: 1954-1955 A. The policy of containment as applied to the region B. U.S. use of the aid weapon X. The Pivotal Year in the Middle East: 1955 A. Formation of the Baghdad Pact B. Adoption of a new Soviet policy C. Soviet Arms Deal with Egypt D. Nasser's confrontation with Israel E. The Aswan High Dam Project XI. The Sinai-Suez War of 1956 A. Escalating fedayeen raids B. Gulf of Aqaba blockade C. Nationalization of the Suez Canal D. The role of the U.S. E. The Tripartite Alliance F. The Hungarian Revolution and its impact on the Middle East G. The Israeli invasion of Sinai H. The Anglo-French attack on Egypt I. The roles of the United States and the Soviet Union J. The role of the United Nations K. The significance of the conflict on all the powers XII. The Growing U.S. Role in the Middle East A. The Eisenhower Doctrine B. The Syrian Crisis of 1957 C. The Lebanese Crisis of 1958 XIII. Arab Attempts at Unity A. Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq before 1957 B. The formation of the United Arab Republic C. The United Arab States D. The Arab Federation E. Pan Arabism and Unity F. Divisions and instability in the Arab World G. Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq after 1957 XIV. The Importance of Saudi Arabia A. Background of the Saudi family-state B. Role of and relationship with the United States C. Modernization under Faisal D. "Riyal Diplomacy" E. The Arab Oil Embargo of 1973-1974 F. Pressures for change XV. The Oil Rich States of the Persian Gulf A. The Iraqi regime from monarchy to Saddam Hussein B. The Kurdish question C. The Sultanate of Oman from empire to modernization D. The Mini-States from Kuwait to the U.A.E. E. The Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait F. Operation Desert Storm and its aftermath XVI. Iran From the Shahs to the Ayatollahs and Beyond A. Historic background B. Role of petroleum and its significance to Britain and the United States C. Role of the Shiite religious leaders D. Interests of Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union E. Rise of the Pahlevi Dynasty F. Westernization and reform G. Early role of Ayatollah Khomeini H. World War II and Iran I. Soviet occupation and the creation of puppet regimes J. The Oil Nationalization Crisis of 1951-1953 K. The U.S. sponsored coup of 1953 L. The White Revolution M. Iran as U.S. surrogate in the Persian Gulf N. The Iranian Revolution of 1979 O. The Islamic Republic P. The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 XVII. The Yemens A. Backgrounds and ethnic rivalries B. The interests of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Soviet Union, and the United States C. Nasser's plans for the Yemen and Southern Arabia D. The 1962 coup and revolution E. The Yemen Civil War F. Southern Yemen G. The British policy in Southern Arabia H. The establishment of a Marxist regime I. Southern Yemen as a Soviet proxy J. Rivalry, unity, and civil war again XVIII. Modern Israel A. Israeli multi-ethnic society B. Economic and social problems C. Governmental structure XIX. The Six Day War of June 1967 A. Background and causes B. Soviet motives C. Role of the Great Powers and the United Nations D. The conflict E. Resolution 242 XX. The 1000 Day War of Attrition of 1967-1970 A. Causes B. Roles of the great powers C. Results and significance XXI. The Palestinians A. Rise of Palestinian nationalism B. The Refugee problem C. Significance of the Six Day War on the Palestinians D. Role of the PLO E. Arab terrorism and its international connection F. The Palestine National Convenant G. The Jordanian Civil War of 1970 XXII. Libya A. Background B. Role of Muammar Qaddafi XXIII. The Yom Kippur/Ramadan War of October 1973 A. Historical context B. The conflict: technological changes and their implications C. The roles of the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. D. The Arab Oil Embargo and its global impact E. Significance of the conflict F. The United States and Shuttle Diplomacy XXIV. The Lebanese Civil War A. Background and causes B. Parties to the conflict C. Role of the outside powers D. Significance XXV. The First Arab-Israeli Peace A. Sadat's Jerusalem journey B. The Israeli incursion into Lebanon of 1978 C. The Camp David Accords D. The Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty XXVI. The Israeli-PLO War in Lebanon of June 1982 A. Causes B. Role of the outside powers C. Significance D. The United States and the Multinational Force E. The PLO evacuation and subsequent PLO civil war XXVII. The Palestinian Intifada XXVIII. Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait and the Persian Gulf War A. Causes B. Role of the outside powers C. Role of the United Nations D. Conflict and cease fire E. Significance XXIX. The Movement Towards Peace A. The Madrid Arab-Israeli Peace Conference B. Role of the United States: The End of the Cold War C. Interests of the Middle East nations D. The Israel-P.L.O. Agreement of 1993 E. The Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty of 1994 XXX. Future Outlook in the Middle East

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