Last week we published some information about Iran, which is a country that is part of the Middle East. However, what do we know about the Middle East? Why does it have that name? What countries do actually make it up? The information that we want to post this week will answer these questions.The Middle East is a region that is located from southwestern Asia to northeastern Africa. It has no clear limits, and it is often used as a synonym to Near East, in contrast to Far East.
The term "Middle East" became bery popular at around 1950 in the United kingdom. It possibly originated in the British India Office (see http://flagspot.net/flags/in-colon.html), and became more widely known and used after the American naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan popularized the term in an artcile that he wrote for National Review (a British journal). During the 1850's the British and the Russian were fighting for controlling Central Asia, and Mahan realized not only the strategic importance of the region, but also of its center, the Persian Gulf. In fact, it was him the one who labeled the area surrounding the Persian Gulf as the Middle East, and said that the Suez Canal was the most important passage for Britain to keep the Russians away.
The history of the Middle East dates back to very old times, and throughout its history the Middle East has been a major center of world affairs. The Middle East is also the historical origin of three of the world’s major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Isalm. The Middle East generally has a dry and hot climate, with several major rivers providing for irrigation to support agricultural activities in limited areas. This region is very rich and important because it has many countries located around the Persin Gulf which have large quantities of crude oil.
To see the countries that make the Middle East follow this link:www.mideastweb.org/countries.htm
