The Middle East is a phrase typically used to denote a region lying to the west of the Mediterranean Sea, and surrounding the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. In real geographic terms, the area is actually comprised of southwest Asia and northeastern Africa. Most of the countries in this region are Muslim countries, with Israel being a major exception.
The climate in most of the Middle East tends to be hot and dry, with temperatures in places like Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan being quite extreme. However, Iran, northern Iraq, and Afghanistan have more of a varied climate, due to mountainous regions and higher altitudes. The region is split by three tectonic plates-the African, Eurasian, and Arabian-and some parts of the region, like Turkey and Iran, suffer from earthquakes.
Certainly when one thinks of the Middle East, one thinks of the great religions that are borne from the area. Although, Islam is certainly practiced by more people in the region than any other, Judaism and Christianity, of course, also began there, as did many minor religions such as Zorastrianism, Druze, and Bahai. As well, there are many different ethnic groups which make up the region: Turks, Jews, Persians, Kurds, Berbers, Assyrians, and Egyptians, are just a few.
The history of the region is certainly rich, and it is the birthplace of numerous civilizations. Mesopotamia (4000 BC), which was located in what is modern Iraq, and parts of Turkey and Syria, is generally accepted as being one of the first literate civilizations, and the first to have cities and centralized government. The ancient Egyptians (3150 BC) are probably the most well-known of the old civilizations from antiquity. Their monuments, pyramids, and artifacts left behind draw millions of tourists each year. The modern delineation of the countries came into being after the fall of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War, when the Allied powers carved out the new countries.
The Middle East has long been an important part of the world for a variety of reasons. Millions of religious pilgrims travel to the Islamic holy places in Mecca and Medina (Saudi Arabia), and to Jerusalem for the Jewish and Christian ones. Throughout the region, history and antiquity are ubiquitous, and nowhere in the world can compare when it comes to historically important sights. From the sphinx and pyramids in Giza, to the city of Petra in Jordan, and to the Western Wall, Temple Mount, and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the sights are numerous and impressive.
Economically, the Middle East is the world’s greatest producer of oil, with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait holding the greatest reserves. Unfortunately, the mix of such an important and valuable resource with the religious and cultural sensitivity and diversity in the area, has been fuel for almost a constant state of tension, if not outright war. Many countries, such as Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian lands, have fought several wars during the past century. Terrorism is high in the region, and many governments are religious totalitarian regimes. Although many old feuds and traditional hatreds make parts of the region dangerous, modernization is taking hold in others. Dubai has quickly become one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world, and a major financial center. Tel Aviv is a modern capital city with all the amenities one would expect. Along the Egyptian coast, resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh, are full of discos, restaurants, and clubs. |
