End of Mandates in the Middle East

Map of mandates in the Middle East following World War I.

At the end of World War I, certain territories in the Middle East became mandates as defined in the Covenant of the League of Nations. These territories were former colonies under the control of the losing sides during the war. They became mandates under the control of the winning countries, primarily France and Great Britain.

Later, at the end of World War II, the League of Nations ceased to exist, as did the legal justification for the mandates. The mandate territories and other colonized areas in the Middle East sought to become independent countries. In this topic, you will examine some of the nations that became independent in the Middle East, some of the prominent leaders in the efforts, as well as some of the regional and global issues that arose during and after the struggle for independence.

Essential Questions

  • What were the results of the United Nations’ decision to end the mandate system in terms of states created (locations) and their subsequent problems?
  • What was the role of Golda Meir and Gamal Abdul Nasser in the creation of the states in the Middle East?