Amit's Blog

The Black Curse: Oil, Imperialism, and the Truncated Destiny of the Middle East  Between the late 19th century and the mid-1950s, the Middle East was tragically reshaped by the insatiable Western demand for oil and the ruthless pursuit of imperial dominance. The decline of the Ottoman Empire opened a geopolitical vacuum, swiftly filled by European powers like Britain and France, later joined by the United States. Through clandestine agreements like Sykes-Picot, exploitative concessions such as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's 86% share, and overt interventions, including the 1953 Iranian coup, these powers carved up the region, drew arbitrary borders, and propped up compliant autocracies. This era of energy greed and strategic maneuvering created artificial states like Iraq, suppressed indigenous self-determination for groups like the Kurds, and sowed the seeds of enduring ethnic, sectarian, and political instability. The legacy of this period is a Middle East perpetually grappling ...

  Technological, Financial, and Military Advancements and the Decline of Asia** 1. Europe’s Key Advancements (16th–18th Centuries) A. Military and Naval Innovations Gunpowder Revolution (16th century):  Adoption of muskets, cannons, and standardized artillery gave European armies a decisive edge over traditional forces. Shipbuilding Breakthroughs (Late 16th–17th century): Carracks & Galleons (Spain/Portugal):  Enabled long-distance voyages but were slow and cumbersome. Dutch Fluyt (1595):  Cheap, efficient merchant ships maximized cargo capacity. British & French Frigates (18th century):  Faster, more maneuverable warships dominated naval warfare. Naval Tactics & Discipline:  Line-of-battle formations (British Royal Navy) ensured superior firepower coordination. B. Financial & Economic Innovations Joint-Stock Companies (1600s): Dutch East India Company (1602) and British East India Company (1600) pooled capital for colonial ventures. Central...