Political map of the Middle EastModern countries called the "Middle East" in the 19th and 20th centuries
The Middle East is a large area of land in the eastern hemisphere. The lands of the Arabian Peninsula and some of the lands of the eastern Mediterranean are part of the Middle East. The Middle East's population is mostly Muslim. The name of the Middle East comes from its position to the east of Europe and to the west of the Far East.[1]
The name "Middle East" does not always have the same meaning, and the size of the area is not always the same.[1] When the name Middle East started to be common, it was the name for the lands in between the Near East and the Far East. The Indian subcontinent was part of the Middle East at that time.[2] Now, parts of south-west Asia and northern Africa can count as the Middle East. The land between Egypt and Iran is a common definition.[2] Many countries in the Middle East today are also part of the Near East.[1] Sometimes, people name countries that are far away from these countries as countries in the Middle East. These countries can be in North Africa (like Morocco) and the Indian subcontinent (like Pakistan).[1] This area also has the name Greater Middle East.
Today, the Middle East is very important because much of the petroleum that other countries use comes from here. There are also many arguments and wars, such as the conflict between Sunni and Shia, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the Syrian civil war.
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