Final answer:
T.E. Lawrence was a British officer influential in the Arab Revolt during WWI, which helped lead to the post-war separation of Arabia from Ottoman control. The aftermath saw Britain and France dividing the Middle East in ways that disregarded earlier promises of Arab independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
T.E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, was a British officer who played a significant role in the Arab Revolt during World War I. Lawrence worked closely with Faisal ibn Hussein, the son of the sharif of Mecca, to lead a successful guerrilla campaign against Ottoman forces, targeting railways and supply lines.
Further complicating the situation were commitments such as the Balfour Declaration, in which Britain supported the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and declarations during the war to protect the rights of peoples in the Middle East and support Arab nationalism.