What is the Middle East?
The Middle East is the common term for a region consisting of countries in southwest Asia and, usually, at least part of North Africa. It is an interesting term – middle of what? east of what? While the term is now widespread both inside and outside the region, it is in fact relatively new. It was coined only at the end of the nineteenth century by the British foreign service, and used in a 1902 article by a United States naval officer.
It was originally used to distinguish the area east of the Near East – the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire – and west of India. It included Afghanistan and Persia. Of course, the Far East denoted the countries of East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. And of course, the term is entirely Eurocentric – the region is east from the perspective of western Europe, but not from China, or Russia, or Africa. Today, Near East and Middle East are synonyms, but Middle East is the more widely used term (except in archaeology, where Near East is still more common).
The origin of the name speaks volumes about the political realities of the nineteenth century, when the perspective of the British in particular carried enormous weight. Interestingly, today the term Middle East is commonly used within the region itself. The four most common languages of the Middle East all use the term in translation to describe the region:
Arabic: al-sharq al-awsat
Turkish: orta dogu
Hebrew: mizrach tichon
Persian: khavarmiyaneh
What's a region, anyway?
To decide what the Middle East is, and what area it covers, we have to understand what a region is. Regions are subjectively determined (and thus debatable) areas that we perceive to have certain characteristics in common. They may be defined by physical geography; for example, areas bordered by mountains or rivers or seas, or areas which share a similar climate. They may also be defined by characteristics of human geography, such as shared historical experience, the same language, the same religion, or similar cultural practices. In the case of the Middle East, both physical and human geographic considerations are brought to bear to define the region.
The Middle East is, very generally speaking, an arid region in Southwest Asia and part of North Africa stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, bounded by the Black and Caspian Seas in the north and the Sahara Desert and Indian Ocean in the south. It has a long shared history and a shared religious tradition, being the birthplace of the three main monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is also often defined as being a locale of trade and cultural transmission, and sometimes conflict, between Europe, Africa and Asia.
Within the larger Middle East, one can also describe sub-regions, such as North Africa or the Levant, which share certain characteristics. The Levant, for example, encompasses modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories, and is often seen as an important area in part because of its close historical connection with countries in Europe and around the Mediterranean.
The Gulf countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman are linked not only by shared history, language and religion, but by the shared opportunities and problems caused by the presence of large oil reserves in these countries. These countries all lie at the eastern edge of a large geological plate (the Arabian plate) that is tilted down from west to east – thus there are mountainous areas on the western end of the plate and oil deposits concentrated along the eastern edge at the shores of the Persian Gulf.
What's In, What's Out?
The exact roster of countries thought to be a part of the Middle East region is often debated. If you look at different maps of the Middle East, you will see different countries included and excluded. Almost everyone would agree that the following countries are part of the Middle East:
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Oman
- The Palestinian Territories
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Notice that all but two are Arabic-speaking majority countries, the exceptions being Iran (where the national language is Persian) and Israel (where the national languages are Hebrew and Arabic).
Egypt is normally included in maps of the Middle East, although it is in Northeast Africa. Why? Egyptians speak Arabic, and Egypt has been a major player in the politics of the Middle East for literally thousands of years, so it is difficult to conceive of the region without Egypt.
Likewise, many experts also include the other countries of North Africa – Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco – because they are also Arabic-speaking and their history and culture are tied to those of the other countries of the Middle East.
Also, most experts in the region would include Turkey – in fact, it is often referred to as a bridge between the Middle East and Europe, both because it straddles the continents of Europe and Asia, and because its historical experience is intertwined both with that of European states and with that of the Middle East.
For our purposes, the Middle East will include all of the countries in the list above as well as:
- Turkey
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Libya
- Tunisia
Not Quite the Middle East
Today, many maps include the countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Until the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Central Asian countries were usually studied as part of the Soviet bloc and Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of political and cultural region of South Asia, rather than as part of the Middle East.
However, particularly after the tragic events of September 11 and the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, these countries have more often been associated with the Middle East because of their political and religious connections, although there are also many dissimilarities in politics, language and culture between these countries and the Middle East.
Similarly, the countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, located between the Black and Caspian Seas, are sometimes included on maps of the Middle East. Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean, has a majority Greek-speaking population, although there is a minority Turkish population in the northern part of the island who claim independence in a republic recognized only by Turkey. These countries and their peoples have had long interrelationships with the Middle East, but again have strong local characteristics that also distinguish them from their neighbors to the south and east.
Sudan is another country that is sometimes considered to be a part of the Middle East, sometimes because of its close and often contentious relationship with Egypt. While there are significant Arabic-speaking and Muslim populations in Sudan, its other cultural and linguistic differences would usually place it in an African context rather than a Middle Eastern one.
Very often, countries on the periphery of the Middle East are incorporated into maps and into the discourse on the Middle East when there is political strife in these areas, often involving Muslims, simply because many Americans don’t distinguish easily between the Middle East and Islam. For our purposes, we will not include these countries in our definition of the Middle East, but will incorporate them into our discussion where it is relevant.
What the Middle East is NOT
There are two common mistakes that are often made when referring to the Middle East. The first is to confuse the Arab world with the Middle East. The Middle East is a very diverse region, with many languages and cultures. While the majority of the inhabitants of the region speak Arabic, there are several countries in the Middle East that are not majority Arabic speaking, including Turkey, Iran, and Israel. Of course, there are also minority communities within the Middle Eastern Arab-majority states for whom Arabic is not their native language, including the Kurds, Berbers, and many other groups. At the same time, there are many Arabic speakers who live in non-Arab majority states, from Sudan to the United States. Although there is a great deal of overlap, the Middle East and the Arab world are not the same thing!
The second common mistake is to equate the Middle East and Islam. While Islam began in the area that is now the modern state of Saudi Arabia, it has spread over the centuries so that there are communities of Muslims all over the world.
Most Muslims today don’t live in the Middle East or grow up speaking Arabic (although many do learn some Arabic for religious reasons, since it is the language of the Quran). In fact, less than 20% of all the Muslims in the world-and there are over 1.3 bill ion-are native speakers of Arabic.
12 Responses to “What is the Middle East?”
December 21, 2015 at 4:57 pm, Rehema said:
So a region is not just a geographical area in which countries are close to each other but a place in which countries share traits that are similar and hence that is why even though some countries are far geographically they are still considered middle eastern countries, interesting fact.
Reply
December 22, 2015 at 2:25 am, Nariman Obias said:
Middle East is great part in the world. It has a lot of background culture and civilization.
Reply
August 25, 2020 at 5:04 am, Ashleigh said:
I really appreciate how they list what countries are included in the MIddle East. My geography is a bit rusty. I’m guilty of the he misconceptions of the Arab world and the Middle East. I’m looking forward to learning more.
Reply
February 02, 2021 at 4:17 am, William Uriegas-Johnson said:
I found this information about the middle east very intriguing and helpful.
Reply
October 01, 2021 at 4:44 am, Chukwu Amaechi O. said:
Satisfactory analysis of the Middle-East
Reply
December 20, 2021 at 11:34 pm, Cole Maxey said:
Very interesting! Great read and I had no idea that the term middle east was coined by a Brit.
Reply
April 29, 2022 at 2:20 pm, Tora Foerschler said:
You’re so awesome! I do not believe I have read through a single thing like that before. So great to discover someone with a few original thoughts on this subject. Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is one thing that’s needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
Reply
June 21, 2022 at 12:57 am, Middle East University said:
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July 14, 2022 at 2:12 am, Dorcas Gehrer said:
Good information. Lucky me I ran across your site by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve book marked it for later!
Reply
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FAQs
What is the Middle East also called? ›
referred to collectively as the Arab World. A more inclusive. designation is the “Middle East and North Africa” (MENA), which adds at least Israel, Turkey, and Iran to the Arab. World.
Why is the Middle East so important? ›Today the Middle East's strategic location as a tricontinental hub, its vast petroleum reserves, its importance to Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike, and its many political disputes give it a global significance out of proportion to its size.
Why is it called the Middle East? ›Terminology. The term "Middle East" may have originated in the 1850s in the British India Office. However, it became more widely known when American naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan used the term in 1902 to "designate the area between Arabia and India".
What is different about the Middle East? ›The Middle East is a very diverse region, with many languages and cultures. While the majority of the inhabitants of the region speak Arabic, there are several countries in the Middle East that are not majority Arabic speaking, including Turkey, Iran, and Israel.
What is Middle East give example? ›Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen.
Who created the Middle East? ›The fall of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century marked the beginning of Western influence in the region and consequently created the 'Middle East' that we know today.
What was the Middle East called before? ›The central part of this general area was formerly called the Near East, a name given to it by some of the first modern Western geographers and historians, who tended to divide what they called the Orient into three regions.
What are the main resources in the Middle East? ›Like oil and water
Today, abundant petroleum fields dominate the area's economy. The Middle East is similarly disproportionately rich in natural gas (32 percent of the world's known natural gas reserves are in the region) and phosphate (Morocco alone has more than half of the world's reserves).
Oil and natural gas are the twin engines that power the Middle East's economy. The region is home to 53 percent of the world's proven oil reserves and nearly half of all known natural gas reserves.
How many countries make up Middle East? ›The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region includes approximately 21 countries, according to The World Bank. The region has vast oil, petroleum, and natural gas reserves.
What is the main religion of the Middle East? ›
The majority of the Middle East's population today is Muslim, as it has been for centuries. However, as the place of origin of a range of world religions – including Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and many lesser-known faiths – it remains a region of remarkable religious diversity.
What countries make the Middle East? ›A variety of countries make up the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
How many people are in Middle East? ›...
Population Growth of the Middle East.
| Country | 2022 Population | Density (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 36,408,820 | 16.94 |
| Yemen | 33,696,614 | 63.82 |
| Syria | 22,125,249 | 119.48 |
The Middle East occupies an area of about 2,782,860 sq miles with a population of over 371 million people. The largest country in the Middle East by land area is Saudi Arabia.
What is the climate like in the Middle East? ›Many sections have a Mediterranean climate, featuring hot, dry summers and wet, mild winters. However the mountains of Iran and Iraq have severe winter conditions. Precipitation is generally quite low, with ranges between 350mm to 750 mm annually (UNESCO - EOLSS, n.d.). The area is known for being hot and arid.
What are the 17 countries of the Middle East? ›The following is the list of Countries in the Middle East include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen.
Which continent is the Middle East? ›Middle East
Why is the Middle East part of Asia? ›The Middle East is a region in western Asia and north-eastern Africa. The term was created by British military strategists in the 19th century, and definitions of the Middle East vary; it is not simply a geographical term, but also a political one, connoting that it separates Europe ("the West") from the Far East.
What means Middle East? ›Definition of the Middle East
: the countries of northern Africa and southwestern Asia that are on or near the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea : the Near East.
Always A Desert? Because, as you may have guessed, the Middle East was not always a vast desert. Around 100 million years ago the region was covered by what scientists call the Tethys Ocean.
How did the Middle East become modern? ›
The Middle East's modern borders began to take shape in the early twentieth century after the Ottoman Empire collapsed. While the once-mighty empires no longer rule over the region, competition over land, oil, and power continues to define the Middle East's modern history.
How old is Middle East? ›The earliest civilizations in history were established in the region now known as the Middle East around 3500 BC by the Sumerians, in Mesopotamia (Iraq), widely regarded as the cradle of civilization. The Sumerians and the Akkadians, and later Babylonians and Assyrians all flourished in this region.
What is oldest country in the world? ›Japan. Japan is arguably the oldest country in the world. Dating back to 660 BCE, the nation was founded by Emperor Jimmu, and is at least 2,600 years old.
Why does the Middle East have oil? ›The opening of each Tethys ocean was accompanied by extensional tectonics which, in turn, created continental rifts during the Infracambrian (Ediacaran-Cambrian transition period), the Ordovician, and the Permian in the Middle East. These rift basins added favourable sites for petroleum generation in the region.
Which country is rich in Middle East? ›Qatar has been ranked as the richest Arab country and the fourth wealthiest on a global scale, per findings by the Global Finance's latest report.
What resource does the Middle East not have enough of? ›Focus Areas. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA)* is the most water-scarce region of the world. Home to 6.3 percent of the world's population, the region contains only 1.4 percent of the world's renewable fresh water. As population pressures in the region increase, the demand for water resources rises.
What are the main exports of the Middle East? ›Fish and fishery product exports and imports
Pelagic fish such as sardines, anchovies, sprats and mackerels are the most exported products from the Middle East. Yemen and Oman, which produce 6% and 5% of the total fisheries production in the region, are the leading exporting nations in the Middle East by volumes.
The reasons why the countries of the Middle East are not called developed are as follows: i) Middle Eastern nations have become rich just with the assets accessible and they have high per capita pay because of the oil production. Thus, they have just one significant type of revenue.
Why is Middle East not a developed country? ›These countries are not considered developed because they do not have other elementary facilities such as education and healthcare. The people of a nation cannot support much of the national income without these basic facilities and thus no growth can take place.
Why are many countries in the Middle East still poor? ›The poor education/labor informality cycle guarantees continued poverty and vulnerability for generations to come for two reasons. First, Arab governments and economies are unable to generate enough new decent jobs to reduce unemployment. New entrants to the labor market have nowhere to go.
What was the Middle East called before? ›
The central part of this general area was formerly called the Near East, a name given to it by some of the first modern Western geographers and historians, who tended to divide what they called the Orient into three regions.
What do Arabs call the Middle East? ›One interesting note is that the concept of the Middle East has been adopted in most of the languages of the region themselves: in Arabic, the region is referred to as al-sharq al-awsat, in Turkish as orta dogu, in Persian as khavarmiyaheh and in Hebrew as mizrach tichon.
What was the Middle East called in ancient times? ›Mesopotamia was home to several powerful empires that came to rule almost the entire Middle East—particularly the Assyrian Empires of 1365–1076 BC and the Neo-Assyrian Empire of 911–605 BC.
Is Middle East considered Asia? ›The southwestern part of Asia is called by many names: West Asia, Western Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East or Near East. The southwestern-most part of Asia is a region at the crossroads between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
What countries make the Middle East? ›A variety of countries make up the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
How many countries make up Middle East? ›The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region includes approximately 21 countries, according to The World Bank. The region has vast oil, petroleum, and natural gas reserves.
What is the main religion of the Middle East? ›The majority of the Middle East's population today is Muslim, as it has been for centuries. However, as the place of origin of a range of world religions – including Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and many lesser-known faiths – it remains a region of remarkable religious diversity.
What language do Muslims speak? ›Muslims and non-Muslims alike in Arab lands speak Arabic. However, not all Muslims speak this language on a daily basis. Muslims in non-Arab regions, where the vast majority of Muslims live today, use Arabic for prayer and religious purposes only.
What language do Arabs speak? ›Arabic language, Semitic language spoken in a large area including North Africa, most of the Arabian Peninsula, and other parts of the Middle East.
Who are the original Arabs? ›Proto-Arabs are presumed to have originated from what is now northern Arabia, Jordan and southern Syria. From their urheimat, ancient Arabs established themselves as far as Babylon, Sinai and further into Arabia, over time replacing some of the old languages there such as Dadanitic and Taymanitic.
What was the first religion in the Middle East? ›
Zoroastrianism (1500-1200BC) is considered the first Middle Eastern religion expressing all of these previous concepts, although some of its adherents believe in the duality of God. According to these adherents there is a good God (Ahura Mazda) and an evil one (Angra Mainyu).
What is oldest country in the world? ›Japan. Japan is arguably the oldest country in the world. Dating back to 660 BCE, the nation was founded by Emperor Jimmu, and is at least 2,600 years old.
Which empire ruled Middle East? ›The ancient Middle East gave rise to some of the greatest empires in human history, including Mesopotamia, Babylonia, the Persian Empire and the Byzantine Empire.
How many people live in the Middle East? ›...
Population Growth of the Middle East.
| Country | 2022 Population | Density (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| Yemen | 33,696,614 | 63.82 |
| Syria | 22,125,249 | 119.48 |
| Jordan | 11,285,869 | 126.32 |
The Middle East occupies an area of about 2,782,860 sq miles with a population of over 371 million people. The largest country in the Middle East by land area is Saudi Arabia.
Is Middle East a country? ›The Middle East is an unofficial grouping of countries geographically located in the region where southeast Asia touches Africa (to the west) and Europe (to the north). There is no definitive roster of Middle Eastern countries.