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World War I and the birth of modern Gulf states.

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Before the war, much of the Gulf was influenced by the Ottoman Empire.

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But when the war began in 1914, Britain saw the Gulf as vital, especially for trade and oil.

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British forces landed in Basra, Iraq, starting the Mesopotamian campaign.

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Their goal, weakened Ottoman power and protect key oil routes.

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During the war, Britain made protection agreements with rulers, laying the foundation for their future independence.

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But after the war, European powers secretly divided the region.

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Oil became the Gulf's most important resource.

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Britain's focus shifted to controlling these new oil-rich lands.

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World War I marked the decline of the Ottomans and the rise of modern Gulf nations.

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The war didn't just redraw maps, it changed the destiny of the region.