The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a super-secret deal between Britain and France in 1916. The aim? To divvy up Turkey’s Arab lands once World War I was over. Arab leaders were not happy when they found out. Imagine you clean up your room expecting to finally get that PS5 as a reward, only to find out your parents already promised it to your neighbor! 😱

• Arabs: Thought fighting against the Turks earned them a ticket to self-rule land. Spoiler: They were wrong.

• The Turks: Controlled the Arab lands before WWI.

• Britain & France: The behind-the-scenes puppet masters who decided to share Turkey's Arab lands.

• Sykes & Picot: British and French politicians who lent their names to the famous (or infamous?) agreement.

 Alliance with France

The WWI report card wasn't looking so good for Britain, especially against Germany. So, staying BFFs with France was key. Think of it as forming a study group with the class genius during finals week.

Trade Routes

Both Britain and France had economic interests in the Middle East. Think of the area as a mega-mall where everyone wants to set up their shop.

Suez Canal

This was like the superhighway for Britain to reach its empire in India and the new oilfields in the Persian Gulf. Imagine if someone threatened to close down the main road to your favorite pizza place; you'd want a plan B, right?