Nationalism in the Middle East. Describe the roots and origins of modern Arab and Iranian nationalism.

Essay by lilbdUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, March 2004

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Nationalism in the Middle East.

Describe the roots and origins of modern Arab and Iranian nationalism. How did early nationalist movements in the Middle East differ? How were nationalist movements throughout the Middle East similar and alike? Can nationalism in the Middle East be described entirely as a response to European imperialism?

The Neolithic Revolution spawned a race of progress among humans, at the head of which was the Middle East, the first area to initiate civilization. The separate tribes of the Middle East came together somewhat to create a primitive nation. If one were to point out the very beginning of nationalism, I would guide that finger to this point in time, right after the Neolithic Revolution. Politics began to fall into place, a new counterpart to the all consuming concerns of survival. As they had no real opponents vying for a place in the line of progress, the Middle East effortlessly dominated the rest of the civilized world with the base of the Neolithic Revolution and the responsive leaps forward in their culture.

The Middle East prevailed for a number of years, leading the world to civilization and to the vague beginnings of technology, art and politics. In this vein the Hellenes eventually overcame the Middle East with their lofty philosophers and sculptors. By this time the Middle East had lost the initial thrust of the Neolithic Revolution and the rush of progress began to slow. Nationalism fell apart, and in this wake Europe easily leapt ahead with the arts and technology.

Hellenism held sway for a millennium or so, leaving the mark of their culture on a much larger foundation of the Middle East. After all, it was the beginning of history in the recorded sense of the word, and therefore everything we know now has sprung...