The Middle East has been involved in numerous conflicts for most of its history. These conflicts are largely due to natural resources and foreign involvement. The Middle East's oil wealth has made it a region of interest that many non-Arab countries must support in order to ensure a constant flow of oil. As the importance of oil increased with the industrialization of the world, its necessity grew. This need for oil has prompted non-Arab countries to become involved in the Middle East through financial aid, treaties, arms and troops. Many foreign countries have intervened in conflicts in the Middle East in order to protect their access to oil supplies for their own nations, thereby causing further conflict and escalation of violence in the region. The Middle East was a very prosperous region, but they fell behind in this area. science and technology in the 19th century. In the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire began to decline and was nicknamed the "sick man of Europe" (Blackadar 2). This left the Ottoman Empire vulnerable to attack from Russia, which seized land, and Europeans seeking to acquire oil in the region. The Ottoman Empire was destroyed during the First World War. Russia and Britain were trying to gain control of Iranian resources, fighting each other on Iranian soil, thereby causing suffering to the Iranian economy. In order to maintain and control Iran's resources, Russia and Britain decided to work together, invading and taking over Iran. “I am quite clear that it is very important to us that this oil be available” (Blackadar 5), said Arthur Balfour, speaking of the importance of oil to Britain. Britain and France conspired to divide the remnants of the Ottoman Empire between themselves...... middle of paper ......s in the Middle East, in the interest of ensuring oil, added to the disruption and upheaval of the economy. this region. Foreign involvement was driven by the need to access a constant supply of oil. This involvement has only worsened conflicts and increased the level of violence in the Middle East. For many years, violent conflicts in the Middle East have involved Arab and non-Arab countries in the quest for control of oil supplies. There is no indication, while the need for oil persists, that these conflicts will be resolved in the near future. Works Cited Blackadar, Andy, ed. “Part I: The Middle East in the World”. The Middle East in Transition: Questions for American Policy (2013): 2-18. Print.Blackadar, Andy, ed. “Part II: Assessing U.S. Priorities in the Middle East.” The Middle East in Transition: Questions for American Policy (2013): 19-34. Print.