The Treaty of Sèvres, signed in 1920, was crucial because it marked the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. The treaty imposed severe territorial losses on the empire, ceding much of its former lands to new nations and European powers. It was part of the Allied powers' strategy to redistribute territories, particularly in the Middle East and the Balkans. The treaty’s harsh terms sparked nationalistic movements within the remaining Turkish territory, ultimately leading to the rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the establishment of modern Turkey. This treaty is often viewed as a catalyst for subsequent geopolitical changes in the region.