In 1900, many of the countries we hear about in the news today did not yet exist. Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States all took shape in the decades that followed. How did this happen? Who drew the borders? And how do those decisions still affect millions of people today? In this thoughtful course, we'll trace the dramatic changes that remade the region, beginning with the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the upheaval of World War I. We'll explore the role of the great powers, the rise of new national movements, the end of European rule and the events that led to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. These are complex and often deeply felt histories. Sydney is home to people with family ties to every part of the region, and many of us bring personal connections and perspectives. This course offers a calm, respectful space to look at the evidence together, listen to one another and deepen our understanding.

Come with an open mind and a curious spirit. Every question is welcome, and every voice is treated with respect.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE RESOURCES

• Simon Sebag Montifiore: The Cauldron (Wiedenfeld & Nicholson, 2026)
• Jonathan Schneer: The Balfour declaration (Bloomsbury, 2011)
• Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson: Why Nations fail (Profile Books, 2013)

COURSE OUTLINE

• Staring with the fall of the ottoman Empire and World War I - trace the outline of the creation of new states in the Middle East
• How did the process of decolonization lead to the current politicogeography of the region.
• How did the newest of the Middle Eastern States (Israel) come into existence?

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand some of the complexities of the current turmoil in the Middle east and the origins of so much of the endemic conflict in the region.