Geutrude Bell Essay

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Jan 9, 2024

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Joel Dube HI-104 Dr. Shipe 4/20/22 Help Received: Reference Work cited Page Gertrude Bell Essay Gertrude Bell was an incredible woman whose achievements often go unappreciated and unrecognized when compared to many of her male counterparts. Bell hailed from one of the wealthiest families in Britain, a family who were well known and well respected as intellectuals within the scientific community. In her childhood, Gertrude met many of the scientists, writers, and statesmen who defined that century’s thinking (Georgina, ed., IX). Even as a child, Bell stood out amongst the crowd as someone who was not easily intimidated. “At the age of twenty, in 1888, she began her life as an adult and became the first woman to gain first-class honors in Modern History at Oxford University” (Georgina, ed., IX). Gertrude Bell would go on to live a life full of adventure and exploration and become a household name not just in Britain but in the public eye of the entire world (Georgina, ed., IX). Bell’s success is unique because she accomplished these things during an era where women were expected to marry by the age of twenty and leave politics and the public world to the men of her time; her unique position as a daughter of a family of great importance and wealth awarded her the opportunity to prove herself as an explorer and archeologist which led her to accomplish something truly unique, the founding of the nation Iraq.

“Archeology and exploration became a form of escapism for Bell and despite her lack of qualifications she had a number of advantages: her energy and enthusiasm, her willingness to go into dangerous territories, and, not least, the financial freedom to follow her ends using her families extensive wealth and connections” (Georgina, ed., 41). Even prior to her work during WWI, Bell was establishing her legacy with journeys to the Middle East and Asia Minor. “In 1909, she mapped the Euphrates and examined over 450 miles of sites before arriving in south Baghdad. During her time in Baghdad, Bell became increasingly worried about the wholesale looting of Iraq’s national treasures (Georgina, ed., 41).” She met with and discussed with King Faisal of Baghdad the need for a law of excavations that would protect the many archeological sites of Iraq and also prevent the nation’s treasure from being imported to foreign museums (Georgina, ed., 42). King Faisal recognized Bell’s skills and made her the “honorary director of archaeology” and provided weight to her framing of the laws that would protect the “rights of the nation and excavators” (Georgina, ed., 42). Even early in her career of expedition and archeology, Bell showed a unique ability to befriend Asian and Middle Eastern tribes and leave her mark. Bell was a rebel who shunned many of the norms of her day. Her travels were her attempts to assert herself and create her own identity far away from the world that considered her a prestigious Bell (Georgina, ed., 63). It was because of her unique position as a Bell that she was able to undertake these expeditions and it was because of these expeditions that she was eventually awarded a posting in the Middle East during WWI. Bell accompanied T.E. Lawrence to the new Arab Intelligence Bureau in Cairo and was able to assimilate with the sheikhs of the desert far better than any other (Georgina, ed., 152). “What made her unique among the

personnel of the Arab Bureau was not only the vast amount of knowledge she had regarding the tribes but that the information was so fresh” (Georgina, ed., 152). During WWI the goal of the Arab Bureau was to find a method beyond the failed strategy of the British military to remove the Turks of the Ottoman Empire from Sinai, Palestine, and Arabia (Georgina, ed., 153). “The Arab Bureau eventually developed the notion that it was feasible to foster an Arab revolt against the Turks and with the sense of this subversive mission, gave themselves the name “The Intrusives” (Georgina, ed., 153).” Gertrude played an important role in fostering these revolts using her extensive knowledge to help discuss methods to fund the insurrection, cut railway links, hijack supplies, foster terrorism, and provoke guerilla warfare (Bell, Georgina 153). “In a radio broadcast in 1927, Lawrence of Arabia admitted that on the subject of the Arab revolt, he owed much to Gertrude” (Georgina, ed., 153). The British had hoped that that the combining of intelligence and analysis would produce a policy capable of pitting the Arabs against the Turks, powerful allies of Germany during WWI (Georgina, ed., 153). It was Gertrude’s responsibility to identify the tribes and their affiliations that could be used as a fighting force, as well as map out and identify key landmarks in the desert such as watering holes and paths through the mountains (Georgina, ed., 153). Towards the conclusion of WWI “The Intrusives” would realize victory and self-determination for the Middle East was going to become a reality. The success of the British in the Middle East during WWI helped form the modern-day Middle East and presented Bell with the opportunity to lead the establishment of the Iraq nation. Due to her familiarity and relation with the Arab tribes in the Mesopotamia area, she had a strong idea of what would be needed to create the Iraqi nation. “Self-determination remained a vague

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