What the British Did: Two Centuries in the Middle East

Description

Britain has been engaged in the Middle East for over two centuries. During the Napoleonic Wars it expelled the French from Egypt. During World War I it helped to dismantle the Ottoman empire. During World War II, it defeated the Italians and Germans. In Front Cover Title Copyright Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations Maps Introduction: ‘The Pedigree of a White Stallion’ PART ONE: LINES OF INCURSION, 1798–1922 1 Persia’s Doubtful Friend: 1800–1914 2 Toeholds in Arabia: The Gulf and Aden, 1798–1914 3 Mediterranean Approaches: Egypt, Syria and Palestine, 1798–1882 4 Unintended Consequences: Egypt, 1882–1914 5 The Battle for the Middle East: On the Defensive, 1914–16 6 The Battle for the Middle East: Onto the Offensive, 1916–18 7 ‘Present at the Creation’: Syria, Iraq, Transjordan, Palestine and Persia, 1918–21 PART TWO: ON BORROWED TIME, 1922–45 8 ‘An Inferior Independence’: Egypt, 1918–39 9 Client Kings: Iraq and Transjordan, 1921–39 10 ‘Riding Two Horses at Once’: Palestine, 1921–39 11 Strong-men, Borders and Oil: The Gulf and Aden, 1918–39 12 Egypt and World War II 13 Holding the Middle East: World War II, 1939–45 PART THREE: DISSOLUTION, 1945–71 14 Complex Adjustments: Nationalism, Oil and Decline 15 A Sea of Troubles: Palestine, Bases and Iran, 1945–54 16 The Road to Suez: Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, 1954–6 17 Still Fighting Nasser: Eastern Mediterranean, Iraq and Yemen, 1957–70 18 Oil, Force and Bases: The Gulf and Aden, 1945–71 PART FOUR: POST-IMPERIAL, 1971–2016 19 Just a Trading Nation: Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf, 1971–9 20 A Return to the Gulf: Iraq, the ‘Arab Spring’ and ISIS PART FIVE: PERSPECTIVES 21 Matters of Scruple 22 How Did the British Do? Notes Select Bibliography Index