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Middle East Maps Center
Middle East Maps Center
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The Middle East is a historical and political region of
Africa-Eurasia with no clear boundaries. The term "Middle East" was
popularized around 1900 in Britain, and has been criticized for its
loose definition. The Middle East traditionally includes countries or
regions in Southwest Asia and parts of North Africa. The corresponding
adjective to Middle East is Middle-Eastern and the derived noun is
Middle-Easterner. The history of the Middle East dates back to ancient
times, and throughout its history the Middle East has been a major
center of world affairs. The Middle East is also the geographic origin
of three of the world’s great religions - Christianity, Islam, Judaism.
The Middle East generally has an arid and hot climate, with several
major rivers providing for irrigation to support agriculture in limited
areas. Many countries located around the Persian Gulf have large
quantities of crude oil. In modern times, the Middle East remains a
strategically, economically, politically, culturally, and religiously
sensitive region. |
A 'housewife' critic of Iran's reformists
In a country where political language is full of courtesy and prudence Fatemeh Rajabi's unflinching criticism of senior conservative and reformist politicians makes her stand outThu, 24 Jul 2008 23:25 BST |
Redress sought as Egypt halts new plant
A Canadian fertiliser company is seeking compensation after construction of a $1.4bn fertiliser plant was halted in a case closely followed by foreign investorsThu, 24 Jul 2008 19:04 BST |
West Bank settlement plan raises tension
Preliminary approval to expand a Jewish settlement deep inside the occupied West Bank has infuriated Palestinian officials and may spark tensions with the USThu, 24 Jul 2008 18:51 BST |
Obama warns on Iran nuclear threat
Barack Obama used his visit to Israel to send a clear signal that he shared the country's deep concerns over Iran's nuclear programme, and remained committed to the traditionally close ties between the US and the Jewish stateWed, 23 Jul 2008 20:13 BST |
Gaddafi arrest brings anti-Swiss backlash
Switzerland accuses Libya of taking 'worrying retaliatory measures' against its citizens a week after authorities had arrested the son of Muammer Gaddafi, the Libyan leaderThu, 24 Jul 2008 01:53 BST |
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