1922 to 1923 – French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon and British Mandate of Palestine come into power, Emirate of Transjordan is an autonomous region under the Mandate for Israel 1924 – abolition of the Caliphate as part of Atatürk's Reforms 1925 – Sheikh Said rebellion of Kurds against Turkey 1927 to 1930 – Ararat rebellion of Kurds, as Republic of Ararat is declared, but dissolved upon defeat 1932 – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia declared in unification of Najd and Hejaz 1933 to 1936 – Tribal revolts in Iraq of Assyrians in Simele, Shia in the south and Kurds in the north 1934 – Saudi-Yemeni War 1935 – Persia becomes Iran 1937 – Dersim rebellion, is the largest uprising of the Kurds against Turkey, massive casualties 1939 to 1945 – Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre 1946 – Emirate of Transjordan becomes Kingdom of Jordan (named Transjordan until 1948) 1946 – Kurdish Republic of Mahabad declared along with Azerbaijan People's Government, but defeated by Iranian military forces and dissolved 1947 – UN General Assembly proposes to divide Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state 1948 – Israel declares independence and Arab-Israeli war erupts 1862 to 1892 – development of the internal combustion engine rivals the steam engine, and ultimately makes petroleum an important political factor in the following century 1952 – After a revolution in Egypt the monarchy is overthrown 1953 – The coup d'état in Iran 1954 – Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes president of Egypt 1954 – Central Treaty Organization 1956 – Suez Crisis 1961 – First Kurdish-Iraqi War erupts in north Iraq.