Author: Хайруллаев, Абдулазиз Атабекович; Абдупаттахов, Жахонгир Миртуйчиевич

Annotation: This article analyzes the formation of the political map of the Middle East following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, focusing on the role of individual historical actors through the cases of Gertrude Bell and Thomas Edward Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). Drawing on verified historical sources, the study examines the impact of the First World War, the mandate system, and British imperial policy on the creation of new states in the region. Particular attention is given to Gertrude Bell’s role as a key architect of Iraqi statehood, her participation in the Cairo Conference of 1921, and her contribution to shaping Iraq’s territorial and administrative foundations. The article also explores the role of Lawrence of Arabia in the Arab Revolt and his military, political, and ideological influence on the dismantling of Ottoman authority. The study highlights the dual nature of their legacy, combining deep knowledge of the Arab world and advocacy for Arab self-rule with colonial practices of externally imposed state-building, the consequences of which continue to affect political instability, sectarian tensions, and unresolved national questions in the Middle East in the twenty-first century.

Keywords: The Modern Middle East, Gertrude Bell and Thomas Edward Lawrence, The Ottoman Empire

Pages in journal: 263 - 269