First, The Last Ottoman Generation and the Making of the Modern Middle East is a very efficient book for students or common people. In this book, Michael Provence seems like addressing students that study on history. This book generally touches on that how last ottoman generation affected to modernisation of Middle East and how this generation became different from other generations. Also, Michael Provence tells us important events that became during this period. This book consists of eight chapters. These are ‘‘Introduction’’, ‘‘Ottoman Modernity in the Long Nineteenth Century: Training State Servants and Making Citizens’’, ‘‘The Theory and Practice of Colonialism in the Post-Ottoman Middle East’’, ‘‘Losing the War and Fighting the Settlement: The Post-Ottoman Middle East Takes Shape, 1918-1922’’, ‘‘League of Nations Hopes and Disappointments: the Return of Armed Struggle in the Post-Ottoman Era, 1923-1927’’, ‘‘Colonial Constitutions and Treaties: Post-Ottoman Militarism, 1927-1936’’, ‘‘The Final Days of the Last Ottoman Generation, 1936-1938’’, ‘‘Epilogue and Conclusions’’. We will look at them and, we will analyse them with regards to academically.

1.Introduction

In this chapter, Michael Provence tells us that what book contains and this how book shapes. This book works last ottoman generation and effects of them to system of world after WW 1 in 19 and 20^th century. And Michael Provence says that The Last Ottoman Generation and the Making of the Modern Middle East is a book that shapes around Syria geography. Also in this chapter, M. Provence told us somethings about visiting of Selahaddin Zengi’s tomb by French general etc.

• Ottoman Modernity in the Long Nineteenth Century: Training State Servants and Making Citizens

 In this chapter, Provence told us trying of modernisation of Ottoman Empire. These are education of students, education of armies, compulsory military service, and infrastructure works. Ottoman Empire established a lot of normal school and military school in the 19^th century. By doing that, they aimed to establish a new generation that consists of generals and politicians that will be supporter development of empire. And this new generation was going to new rulers after the collapse of Ottoman Empire. Also, in this chapter, Michael Provence tells us that Ottoman empire started to establish a new infrastructure works such as train, communication systems, sewage systems etc. in 19th century.

• The Theory and Practice of Colonialism in the Post-Ottoman Middle East

This chapter tells us that after the Ottoman Empire, Allied Power brought a new colonialism system in the Ottomans area and what this system changes in the society of Middle East. In this chapter, there are some treaties. First, in The Paris Peace Conference, parties decided destiny of Middle East. In this conference, Arab leaders wanted independence, and this were not accepted actually. Generally, decisions were benefits to England and France. Second is San Remo Conference and Sevres Treaty. These events were sharing of Ottoman Empire’s lands and establishing new colonisations. Also, League of Nations was established for administrating these colonies. And with this policy, Arab leaders could be angry because these colonies policy was literally exploitation of economy etc.

• Losing the War and Fighting the Settlement: The Post-Ottoman Middle East Takes Shape, 1918-1922

In this chapter, chapter narrates us that after the WWI, Ottoman Empire had very bad period and after some wars such as Nablus War – we said that Michael Provence prepared that book around the Syria geography-. Also in this chapter, Michael Provence said that British general Allenby went in Damascus and after that King Faysal prepared to establish a new state, but Arabs society’s expectation was not going to be like that wants. Actually, Arabs did not want to be colony, they wanted to be real independent state. So, they showed some resistance such as Maysalun War, Nebi Musa Revelry (I some researched Nebi Musa Revelry and absolutely, I want to research detail of this topic.). Generally, in this chapter, there are rebellions of Arabs geography.

• League of Nations Hopes and Disappointments: The Return of Armed Struggle in the Post-Ottoman Era, 1923-1927

 This chapter generally tells us that after the Ottoman Empire, people of this area got letdown. Also, in this chapter, there are passing from military resistance to diplomatic resistance. Like previous chapter, there is Lozan Conference and also, there are effects of Lozan to the Arabian world. In 1924, Caliphate was destroyed, and this was very big letdown Muslim world, and this caused gap of cultural and religious. In addition, in Syria, Iraq, Palestine, there were very oppressive power of England and French administration. Also in this chapter, Michael Provence underscored Emir Şekib Arslan. This man was leader of Arab nationalism.

• Colonial Constitutions and Treaties: Post-Ottoman Militarism, 1927-1936

This chapter comprises telling military system and constitutions of states that established after the Ottoman Empire. Generally, in this chapter, Michael Provence said that England or France create a new system in Middle Eastern country and then, people of this country become angry and they revolt in their streets. First is Iraq. In Iraq, society revolted very effectively, and it caused political conflict as soon as. Second is Syria and Lebanon. This situation continued likewise. Third is Jordan. There is a king. He was King Abdullah. In this time, Jordan was under control of England. And Palestine. Michael Provence told us quarrel of Muslims and Jews in 1928 and 1929. Also, he touched on crisis of Wailing Wall in 1929. In briefly, Provence wrote generally rebellion of Middle East in this chapter.

• The Final Days of the Last Ottoman Generation, 1936-1938

 This chapter tells us nearly that Last Ottoman Generation ends and big rebellions of the Middle East geography. In Syria and Palestine, there were a lot of strikes to British administrator. These strikes caused to establish independent state as soon as. Also, in this chapter, Michael Provence tells Rebellion of Palestine in 1936-1939. This rebellion caused because of immigration of Jews. England became a soothing power in there. Also, there are topics that were independence of Syria and Yasin Pasha. This chapter shows us that last Ottoman generation’s generals outed area and diplomatic Arabs leaders came in area.

• Epilogue and Conclusions

In this chapter, Provence tells after effects of destroyed Ottoman in Middle East by gathering main theme. Resistance and independence of Arabs is main topic in there. Also, in this chapter, there is Cris of Alexandretta (Hatay) and dispute between Turkiye and France. In addition, there are Peels Commission and craving to end of colony of Palestine, amnesty of Syrian rebel in this chapter. Michael Provence tells us that problems of today’s Middle East is from being mandate governments.

My Conclusion

I have introduced shortly The Last Ottoman Generation and the Making of the Modern Middle East, and I want to say something about this book. First, I found exposition of Michael Provence tendentious because he said that Ottoman repress Armenian and killed them. This rhetoric is a nonsense in itself. Every historian know truth, but someone does not prefer telling truth unfortunately. If I look other side, Michael Provence preferred good exposition in his topics. For instance, he always went over person, he always told topic with example of person. This is very important to better understand topics. Also, Michael Provence approach view of different countries in some topics. In briefly, I was very happy during reading this book because this book was not boring. Michael Provence wrote very fluently this book. If you want to learn what happened in Middle East after Ottoman Empire, you should read this book, I can suggest, but you should filter during your readings, actually we should do this in all readings.

Thanks for reading my review!

Abdülrahim Yılmaz