Middle East

The Middle East (also called Southwestern Asia) is a region comprising the lands that extend from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. The Middle East is a subregion of Africa-Eurasia, or more specifically, Asia, and sometimes North Africa and Afghanistan.

Borders

The term Middle East defines a cultural area, so it does not have precise borders. It is generally taken to include: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Iran (Persia), Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the Palestinian Territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Related Topics:
Bahrain - Cyprus - Egypt - Turkey - Iran - Iraq - Israel - Jordan - Kuwait - Lebanon - Oman - Qatar - Saudi Arabia - Syria - United Arab Emirates - Yemen - Palestinian Territories - West Bank - Gaza Strip

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Iran is often the eastern border, but Afghanistan is sometimes included due to its close relationship to the larger group of Iranian peoples, historical connections to the Middle East including being part of the various empires that have spanned the region such as those of the Persians and Arabs among others. Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and western Pakistan share close cultural, linguistic, and historical ties with Iran and are also part of the Iranian plateau, whereas Iran's relationship with Arab states is based more upon religion and geographic proximity. Also the Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the Middle East without their own state.

Related Topics:
Iran - Afghanistan - Iranian peoples - Persians - Arabs - Tajikistan - Pakistan - Iranian plateau - Kurds

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