Sykes Picot Agreement Map before and after

The Sykes-Picot Agreement Map: Before and After

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret treaty signed on May 16, 1916, by Britain and France with Russian assent. The agreement aimed to carve up the Ottoman Empire after World War I and establish spheres of influence in the Middle East. The agreement was named after the two diplomats who negotiated it, Sir Mark Sykes for Britain and François Georges-Picot for France. The treaty had far-reaching consequences for the Middle East and has been blamed by some for the region`s instability to this day. In this article, we will examine the Sykes-Picot Agreement Map before and after its implementation.

Before the Sykes-Picot Agreement

Before the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the Middle East was a complex patchwork of Ottoman provinces, Arab tribes, and European colonial interests. The Ottoman Empire had ruled the region for centuries, but by the early 20th century, it was in decline and facing pressure from European powers. The Arab tribes, on the other hand, were seeking greater autonomy, while European colonial powers were looking to expand their influence and access to resources.

The Sykes-Picot Agreement Map

Under the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the Middle East was divided into two spheres of influence, one for Britain and one for France. The agreement created new territories and borders that did not reflect the cultural, religious, or ethnic realities of the region, and the people living there were not consulted. The agreement divided the Middle East into the following zones:

– Zone A: France was to control the regions of Lebanon and Syria, including the city of Damascus and the coast up to the Turkish border.

– Zone B: Russia was to control the region of Armenia and the province of Mosul in northern Iraq.

– Zone C: Britain was to control the regions of southern Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine, including the city of Jerusalem.

After the Sykes-Picot Agreement

The implementation of the Sykes-Picot Agreement had significant consequences for the Middle East. The new borders and territories created by the agreement ignored the cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity of the region, and led to the creation of new states with weak legitimacy and internal divisions. The agreement also paved the way for European colonial powers to dominate the region and control its resources.

The legacy of the Sykes-Picot Agreement is still felt in the Middle East today, as many of the borders and territories established by the agreement remain in place. The agreement has been blamed for the lack of stability and the ongoing violence in the region, including the conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sykes-Picot Agreement Map before and after its implementation had a significant impact on the Middle East. The agreement created new territories and borders that did not reflect the cultural, religious, or ethnic realities of the region, and led to the dominance of European colonial powers. The legacy of the agreement is still felt in the region today and has contributed to the lack of stability, ongoing violence, and conflicts in the Middle East.