What were mandates and which powers administered them in the Middle East after World War I?

• A. Territories administered by the Ottoman Empire.
• B. Territories administered by the United Nations.
• C. Independent provinces granted self-rule by the League of Nations.
• D. Territories administered by Allied powers under League of Nations supervision; Britain and France.

Answer: (D)

Mandates were territories taken from the former Ottoman Empire and placed under temporary administration by a member of the League of Nations, with the duty to guide them toward eventual self-rule. In effect, they were administered by powerful states but under international oversight, rather than being outright colonies. In the Middle East after World War I, the mandate powers were Britain and France. Britain controlled areas such as Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq, while France controlled Syria and Lebanon. The League of Nations supervised the process, though in practice these regions remained under the influence of their assigned powers for many years, rather than becoming independent immediately. The United States didn’t administer mandates, and the United Nations hadn’t been established yet.