Born into one of England's wealthiest families, Gertrude Bell was an outstanding scholar who wanted to travel and make a difference in the world. She fell in love with the Middle East and explored the deserts of Arabia and Persia, living in tents and meeting tribal leaders. By the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Bell was a leading expert on the Middle East. After the war, she became an advisor during the peace settlements in the region and helped establish the view country of Iran. She also helped found a national museum of ancient artifacts in Baghdad.