JB Shreve presents the End of History

Reading Time: 1 minuteTo conclude our look at the history of the modern Middle East here is a quick podcast episode with some brief book reviews and suggested reading on the Middle East for those interested in learning more. The list of books for suggested reading on the Middle East also includes some recommended NOT reading.   ↑ Grab this Headline Animator   If you have enjoyed this podcast episode on the history of the Middle East, you might enjoy the entire series. You can download/stream it here at my SoundCloud page or click here to see the entire series and posts here at the web site. You might also enjoy my Guide to Understanding the Middle East.

Reading Time: 2 minutesWhen I was a kid Lebanon was frequently featured on the nightly news. This was during the 1980s and before 24 hour news networks. Each night we saw pictures of bombed out buildings and deserted streets. Since then this period of the Middle East has become the backdrop for various movies and stories. The Fall of Lebanon podcast episode takes the complex nature of the Lebanese Civil War and subsequent Israeli invasion and boils it down to the basic Lebanon civil war facts and story. My hope is that you will understand what took place here in the late 1970s and 80s and also recognize how unnecessary all of this violence was. For the sake of context, we have to remember how the stage that was set for Lebanon which we discussed in a previous episode in this podcast series. When the French left Lebanon (and also Syria) they left the new nation designed for failure. The government was structured so that minority ethnic and religious groups were ruling over the majority ethnic and religious groups. They would always need French support and power to maintain their hold on power. The problems arose when French power was no longer available or accessible. These are the backgrounds to the Lebanon civil war facts and story. The civil war, as I will show in this podcast episode, set the stage for the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. This catalyzed a new round of chaos and crisis for Lebanon. Ultimately this is the story of the fall of Lebanon. The horror stories which reflect the literal history of Lebanon during this period of history in the Middle East would become the battle cries for many extremists in the coming years.   ↑ Grab this Headline Animator     If you have enjoyed this podcast episode on the history of the Middle East, you might enjoy the entire series. You can download/stream it here at my SoundCloud page or click here to see the entire series and posts here at the web site. You might also enjoy my Guide to Understanding the Middle East.

Reading Time: 7 minutesThe Paris Peace Conference at the conclusion of “the war to end all wars” was supposed to change the way the world worked. The ideals espoused by men like Woodrow Wilson and others suggested that the people of the world would be free and enter into a period of self rule and independence. That is not what followed. The interwar years between World War I and World War II are known as the mandate period in the Middle East. Much of region was divided up between the French Mandate and the British Mandate in the region. This was the last grasp of the imperialist system before it came crashing down after World War II. Its impact upon the Middle East was significant. The British Mandate The whole of the British domains were not subjected to the British mandate status. All of the lands apportioned to the British were however seen as British assets to be doled out to their loyal beneficiaries as the British government saw fit. The lands that would one day be known as Saudi Arabia for example were now British prizes after World War I. This included the holy cities of Islam like Mecca and Medina. Britain had little interest in these lands. They were seen as desert land inhabited by nomadic groups who were prone to guerilla warfare throughout the 19th century. The only thing Britain needed out of these lands was safe and secure access to the port cities in the south. They had no desire to get involved in the Islamic holy cities. There was nothing of benefit for the British to hold on to this territory. This was of course before oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia. The problem was that two British allies claimed to be the rightful heirs of the Islamic holy cities. Sharif Hussein and the Saudis both believed they should be given these lands. In the end the British gave the soon to be lands of Saudi Arabia over to the Saudis. This did not prevent Hussein’s forces from fighting to take those lands from the Saudis but the British backed the Saudis in these fights and the lands ultimately rested with the Saudis. By the 1930s Saudi Arabia was established. The state budget of Saudi Arabia was literally held in a large box by the head of the Saudi royal family. All of that would soon change however as this desert kingdom given to religious extremism soon became owner of some of the world’s largest reserves of oil. The more famous territories which the British took possession of were to the northwest of Saudi Arabia and would become known as the British Mandate in Palestine. * You can take a deep dive on the British Mandate in Palestine at my expert guide A Complete and Balanced Historical Guide to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. I go into much greater detail on the Balfour Declaration, the mandate and everything that is included in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict there. In Palestine the British found themselves victims to their own over abundance of promises made during the war. The government of Britain promised to show interests and progress for the development of a Jewish state in Palestine. The problem was the Jewish people were a minority there and the local Palestinian Arabs were not interested in establishing a Jewish homeland in the land their families had lived in for centuries. Then there was the Hussein family. Sharif Feisal Hussein had led the Great Arab Revolt on behalf of the British in World War I. Now he was being kicked out of the holy lands of Islam by the Saudis and the Saudis were doing this with British military support. Among the first priorities for the British was to appease Sharif Feisal Hussein. The leader of the Great Arab Revolt may have lost the holy cities of Islam but he was put in charge of much more profitable and influential lands.

Reading Time: 3 minutesIf you ask the average person what the dominant belief system is in the Middle East is today they will likely suggest it is based upon Islam. They might believe that it Islam Extremism or they might not but Islam is usually rooted to the popular mindset of what the Middle Eats is all about. The reality is that until the late 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s this was nowhere near the active reality in the Middle East. Islamic fundamentalism and extremism did not have a chance of growing in the Middle East for several decades after World War II. This is proven out because small and ineffective organizations tried to get it to grow during that time. These were the likes of the Muslim Brotherhood and others who were almost completely ineffective from World War II until 1979.   Instead, the 1950s and 60s was a time of growing political thought and activity throughout the Middle East. A wide array of political ideologies and philosophies gained ground at different times throughout these decades. I mentioned Nasserism in the last episode and post which was also linked closely to Pan Arabism. This was a belief that all the new Arab states of the Middle East should ban together and consolidate their global power and influence into voice in the global bodies such as the United Nations. This had varying degrees of success and failure during this time. In many ways it was a look back to the days of the Ottoman Empire when the Arab voice loomed large over world affairs. In the end Pan Arabism and Nasserism failed as too many leaders tried to leverage this strategy for their own gain.   Ba’athism was another unique political doctrine that was rooted to the Middle East. Ba’athism was born in Syria and Iraq and its influence has stretched all the way to the last decade. People like the former leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein adhered to the parties and basic philosophy of Ba’athism.   A resurgence of Arab nationalism in general helped spark all sorts of activity throughout the Middle East and helped raise a new generation of Arab leaders and political thinkers. This was the era in which the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was born and became actively involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Arab nationalism moved beyond merely Pan Arabism and Nasserism, and although closely linked to Ba’athism it centered its message into the heart of an Arab identity and voice. This period of history in the Middle East included socialists and democrats but their common denominator tended to be Arab nationalism. The Arabs did not need to be like Europe or Asia. They needed to be uniquely Arab and the world systems and powers should adapt to that. This was the ethos.   This era of “isms” in the Middle East was brought to a crushing halt in the 1967 Six Days War which we will look at in the next part of this series. The political identity did not end here. It would still be some time before Arabs began to be seen or to see themselves as largely and uniquely Muslim. ↑ Grab this Headline Animator   If you have enjoyed this podcast episode on the history of the Middle East, you might enjoy the entire series. You can download/stream it here at my SoundCloud page or click here to see the entire series and posts here at the web site. You might also enjoy my Guide to Understanding the Middle East.

Reading Time: 1 minuteThe modern Middle East turns 100 years old in 2019. This will mark the 100 year anniversary of the Paris Peace Conference following World War I. This was when the Ottoman Empire was officially disassembled and the borders for most of the modern Middle East were established by the great powers at the time.   This episode represents the original finale of my History of the Middle East podcast series. (I have sense then added more episodes to the series.) As the Middle East turns 100 this episode explores where we have been in the series to date and where the Middle East might go in the next 100 years.   ↑ Grab this Headline Animator   If you have enjoyed this podcast episode on the history of the Middle East, you might enjoy the entire series. You can download/stream it here at my SoundCloud page or click here to see the entire series and posts here at the web site. You might also enjoy my Guide to Understanding the Middle East.  

Reading Time: 2 minutesSomething very strange happened in the Middle East in 1979. It was barely noticed in the west but is happened all the same. In the span of this single year, the people of the Middle East seemed to give up on political solutions to their constant crises and they turned increasingly toward Islam as the answer for the Middle East. It was not just any brand of Islam that became popular however. For the history of the Middle East, 1979 marks the beginning of the rise of religious extremism in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia the siege of Mecca occurred. This is an event which the Saudis have tried to erase from history but it occurred none the less. A group of insurgents took over the famous Grand Mosque and demanded the overthrow of the Saudi royal family. The insurgents claimed the Saudis had moved away from true Islam.   The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. This set in motion a series of events that drew Muslims from around the world to travel to Afghanistan and fight against the Soviets in a holy war, or jihad. This is where al Qaeda and the Taliban would be birthed. Most famously, in Iran the Shah was overthrown and Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution carried the day in victory.   This podcast tells the story of the rise of extremism in the Middle East that began in 1979. I also explore why hope in political solutions faded at this particular time. If you enjoy this podcast episode I also did a whole series focused solely on Islamic extremism that separates the facts from the fictions in the history of this topic. It’s called Killers in the Name of God and can be found here at the web site or here at my SoundCloud page. If you have enjoyed this podcast episode on the history of the Middle East, you might enjoy the entire series. You can download/stream it here at my SoundCloud page or click here to see the entire series and posts here at the web site. You might also enjoy my Guide to Understanding the Middle East.   ↑ Grab this Headline Animator   Show Notes: Ghost Wars by Steve Coll Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution by Nikki R. Keddie Milestones by Sayyid Qutb

Reading Time: 1 minuteThis podcast episode is our 2017 year in review special. You can find our previous year in review episodes at our playlist on SoundCloud. In the midst of all the chaos and tragedy of 2017 one subtle reality stands above it all. This was the year western culture and civilization lost sight of right and wrong.   the End of History Episode 182. 2017: The Year We Lost Right and Wrong

Reading Time: 2 minutesWe are now 100 years removed from World War I. It is all too easy to look at this huge game changing even to the global order as simply a historical event. In fact, a lot of the stories I have seen this week speak about the benefits that World War I brought to the world. For those living in the midst of the war that would end all wars, it was a different story though. This special podcast episode from the End of History looks at one of these perspectives. For many Christians in the west who lived through World War I they believed the apocalypse had arrived – the end of the world. This special apocalypse podcast looks at the historical realities of World War I and a school of Christian and religious thought that was very public at the time – even if we have all but forgotten it today. Anti-Christs! Mark of the Beast! Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse! We cover it all in this special podcast episode from the End of History Apocalypse – A Historical Account Based Upon A True Story. Through the utilization of a specific season from modern history JB Shreve shines light on the ideas of the end of the world and asks some tough questions we can all consider. This is a true story from world history, told in a way you have probably never heard it before. This is the true story of the Apocalypse of World War I! the End of History  Episode 181: Apocalypse Podcast – A Historical Account Based Upon A True Story If you like the intro music on this episode, check this out.   Thanks for listening to the End of History in 2017. This episode was specially designed for our subscribers. We hope it adds to your holiday road trips. For those who have not subscribed to us yet at SoundCloud, please do so today. Our podcast episodes are free and your subscription helps show your support for future episodes. Feel free to pass us along to your friends too!     ↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Reading Time: 1 minuteTerrorists and extremism at every border. Civil wars in the north and the south. Prime ministers resigning. Shifting balances of power. A decline in American influence and a rise in Russian influence. Plagues and famines. Shiite and Sunni regional warfare. This is the Collapse of the Middle East.  This episode serves as a sequel to the 2012 podcast series we did on the History of the Modern Middle East. This is everything that has happened since 2012 and a clear context and understanding for what is coming. (Spoiler alert: It is not going to get better.)   the End of History  Episode 180: The Collapse of the Middle East   If you like this episode you will also enjoy our original podcast series on the History of the Modern Middle East.   Additional Reading: How the Iranian-Saudi Proxy Struggle Tore Apart the Middle East In the Middle East the Dream of Democracy is Dead Saudi Arabia Has Devastated Yemen Saudi Arabia and Iran May Be Headed for War   If you enjoyed the opening music on this podcast episode….

Reading Time: 1 minuteThis podcast episodes examines 5 different narratives about the modern world we live in that many of us have innocently believed. They do not hold up under scrutiny and when we realize they are lies we recognize our need to know the truth about this dangerous world. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31 Take a look at the world and events that surround us from a perspective you won’t hear anywhere else.   If you enjoyed this episode you might also enjoy this episode on our Post Truth era from late 2016. 

Reading Time: 1 minute“One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.” This episode looks at the famous lives of Nat Turner and John Brown, two anti-slavery figures of 19th century America. A cause may be righteous but that doesn’t make one’s methods immune from classic definitions of terrorism. This is part of our ongoing podcast series on the History of Terrorism. the End of History Episode 179: American Terrorists – Nat Turner and John Brown     Additional Reading: This is an article published in the Atlantic Magazine in 1861 telling the story of the Nat Turner revolt Nat Turner Park in Newark, NJ John Brown’s Body and the Battle Hymn of the Republic John Brown’s Day of Reckoning

Reading Time: 1 minuteThis podcast features the true story of AQ Khan, the man who more than any other individual helped spread the threat of nuclear war around the world. When we hear stories of North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, India and the bomb, at least one of our thoughts should go to this person – AQ Khan. the End of History Episode 178. North Korea, Iran, and the Wrath of Khan   Additional Reading: AQ Khan Nuclear Chronology The Wrath of Khan AQ Khan’s Nuclear Smuggling Network The Man Who Sold the Bomb

Reading Time: 1 minutePart 2 of our episode White Terrorism in the South. This is part of the ongoing History of Terrorism podcast series. the End of History Episode 177 White Terrorism in the South Part 2

Reading Time: 1 minuteOur podcast series on the History of Terrorism continues. This 2 part podcast episode looks at White Terrorism in the south after the Civil War. Be prepared for a look at a shameful American history you have probably never heard or considered. America’s part in the history of terrorism did not start at 9/11. It started in the 19th century and it helps explain a lot of the domestic issues today. the End of History  Episode 176: White Terrorism in the South   Recommended Reads: Lynching in America – A Report from the Equal Justice Initiative The KKK Was Dead – The First Hollywood Blockbuster Revived It The Long History of Southern Terror Even More Blacks Were Lynched in the US than Previously Thought

This final episode in our podcast series LGBT Facts & Fictions looks at the issue from a distinctly Christian perspective. (WARNING: Non-Christians will not enjoy or find this episode enlightening.) We look at the fundamental principles that Christians should consider when looking at the LGBT issue. Two questions come to mind as we look at this: Is it possible to hold a non Christian worldview and oppose LGBT and NOT be a bigot? And, is it possible to hold a Christian worldview and NOT see the LGBT issue as morally wrong?   the End of History Episode 175: LGBT – A Christian Perspective   You can download this entire series beginning with Part 1 in the series LGBT FACTS & FICTIONS by clicking here. You can also listen to this podcast using the Soundcloud app on your smart phone.