Middle East

Localization of the Near East (dark green) without Egypt and within the Middle East (light green).

The Middle East is a region of Asia and Africa including the countries of south-eastern Levantine Basin ( Mediterranean Sea ). It often includes the Middle East ^Etymology

This region has played an important role in the strategic history of France, the term "Middle East" has its origins in the French diplomatic vocabulary of the late nineteenth ^century. The adjective "close" to divide the Asia by reference to areas of influence of France, between a " Far East "in East Asia, and a" Middle East ", east of Mediterranean basin.

Territory

Satellite image centered on the Middle East

The region has no official boundaries, but it typically includes the following countries:

• Egypt
• Iraq
• Palestine
• Israel
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Syria

Sometimes we add extension

• Asian and Mediterranean countries of Turkey:
  • Azerbaijan
  • Cyprus
  • Turkey
• countries of the Maghreb , for historical or cultural proximity:
  • Algeria
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia
• Anglo-Saxon times to add the Caucasus:
  • Armenia
  • Georgia

Religions

The Middle East is the cradle of three great monotheistic religions . Nowadays, the Islam is the religion of the majority of the inhabitants of this region, with the exception of Israel , whose population is predominantly Jewish , as well as Cyprus and Armenia mainly Christian Orthodox. In the region there are large communities Christian , especially in Lebanon .

References

Leave a Reply