World War I had a profound effect upon the Middle East.  Indeed, in order to understand many of the current problems of the Middle East, understand the effects of World War I is essential.  The following are resources that will help understand this aspect of the Middle East:

• "Impact of World War I upon the Middle East," Ochsenwald, The Middle East: A History (2003)
  

• "The Middle East During World War One"   David R. Woodward  (BBC)

• "The Middle East and the West"  Mike Shuster  (NPR)