Who REALLY Made the Modern Middle East - with Simon Sebag Montephiore

How much of the Middle East’s history was actually shaped by the West? The story most of us learned about who created the modern Middle East is incomplete. Dan is joined by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The Cauldron, who argues that we give Western powers too much credit and the people of the region too little agency. In Part I of their conversation, they trace the forces that shaped the region, from the Ottoman legacy and the rise of nationalism to the Iranian Revolution and Islamism. Purchase a copy of Simon’s book The Cauldron here.  Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —-This episode is sponsored by RootOne. Help the Jewish teen in your life experience Israel for themselves. Visit RootOne.org to learn more. Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back ___ In this episode:  - Who really made the modern Middle East? - The myth of empire as a Western phenomenon - How the Middle East lost its diversity - Did the nation-state fail the Middle East? - Why Iran’s 1979 revolution changed everything - How Khomeini turned Islamism into a regional force ___ More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to Ark News Daily Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo