i think you are starting to late in history , i would start with the Arab conquests under the banner of Islam . However as you want to start with the Ottoman Empire .. first it is very important to realise that it was a Empire.. not a nation , it was made up of many nations , tribes and regions each with its own culture , religion , history and nationalisum . Much of the Ottomans strenght was used maintaining control and supressing the conquered peoples of the empire . The favoured ottoman version of islam was at odds with much of the now middle east . The focus of the empire was westward not eastern and the now middle east was the backwater of the empire .
to me it seems post ww2 lead to the main causes of the current situation , with the forming of east / west satalites , the supporting of pro west goverments that where not supported by the people et al .
Edited by ikabod, : No reason given.
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