Middle East
19323
226043041
2008-07-16T15:58:37Z
Yorkshire Phoenix
1569996
General spelling, style, &c
{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}
{{redirect|The Middle East|other meanings|The Middle East (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Middle east graphic 2003.jpg|300px|thumb|Political & transportation map of the Middle East today]]
The '''Middle East''' is a [[Historical geography|historical]] and [[politics|political]] region of [[Afro-Eurasia]] with no clear boundaries. The term "Middle East" was popularized around 1900 in the [[United Kingdom]]; it has a loose definition traditionally encompassing countries or regions in [[Western 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 centre of world affairs. The Middle East is also the geographic origin of three of the world’s major religions - [[Christianity]], [[Islam]] and [[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.
==Etymology==
[[Image:GreaterMiddleEast.gif|400px|thumb|The Middle East can have varying definitions and boundaries]]
The term "Middle East" may have originated in the 1850s in the British [[India Office]],<ref>{{cite book |title=The Middle East: A Geographical Study |author=Beaumont, Peter, Gerald H. Blake, J. Malcolm Wagstaff |publisher=David Fulton |year=1988 |pages=p.16}}</ref> and became more widely known when [[United States|American]] naval strategist [[Alfred Thayer Mahan]] used the term.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Koppes, C.R. |title=Captain Mahan, General Gordon and the origin of the term "Middle East" |journal=Middle East Studies |volume=12 |pages=p. 95–98 |year=1976 |doi=10.1080/00263207608700307}}</ref> During this time the [[British Empire|British]] and [[Russian Empire]]s were vying for influence in [[Central Asia]], a rivalry which would become known as [[The Great Game]]. Mahan realized not only the strategic importance of the region, but also of its center, the [[Persian Gulf]].<ref>Melman, Billie. [http://cco.cambridge.org/extract?id=ccol052178140x_CCOL052178140XA010 The Cambridge Companion to Travel Writing: 6 The Middle East / Arabia], Cambridge Collections Online. Retrieved January 8, 2006.</ref><ref>Palmer, Michael A. ''Guardians of the Persian Gulf: A History of America's Expanding Role in the Persian Gulf, 1833-1992.'' New York: The Free Press, 1992. ISBN 0-02-923843-9 p. 12-13.</ref> He labeled the area surrounding the Persian Gulf as the Middle East, and said that after the [[Suez Canal]], it was the most important passage for Britain to control in order to keep the Russians from advancing towards [[British Raj|India]].<ref>Laciner, Dr. Sedat. "[http://www.turkishweekly.net/comments.php?id=2117 Is There a Place Called ‘the Middle East’?]", ''The Journal of Turkish Weekly]", June 2, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2007.</ref> Mahan first used the term in his article "The Persian Gulf and International Relations," published in September 1902 in the ''[[National Review (London)|National Review]]'', a British journal.
[[Image:AlfredThayerMahan.jpeg|thumb|left|Alfred Thayer Mahan]]
<blockquote>The Middle East, if I may adopt a term which I have not seen, will some day need its Malta, as well as its Gibraltar; it does not follow that either will be in the Persian Gulf. Naval force has the quality of mobility which carries with it the privilege of temporary absences; but it needs to find on every scene of operation established bases of refit, of supply, and in case of disaster, of security. The British Navy should have the facility to concentrate in force if occasion arise, about Aden, India, and the Persian Gulf.<ref>Adelson, Roger. ''London and the Invention of the Middle East: Money, Power, and War, 1902-1922.'' New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-300-06094-7 p. 22-23</ref></blockquote>
Mahan's article was reprinted in ''[[The Times]]'' and followed in October by a 20 article series entitled "The Middle Eastern Question," written by Sir [[Ignatius Valentine Chirol]]. During this series Sir Ignatius expanded the definition of the "Middle East" to include "those regions of Asia which extend to the borders of [[India]] or command the approaches to India."<ref>Adelson, 24.</ref> With the series end in 1903, ''The Times'' removed quotation marks from subsequent uses of the term.<ref>Adelson, 26.</ref>
Until [[World War II]], it was customary to refer to areas centered around [[Turkey]] and the eastern shore of the Mediterranean as the "[[Near East]]," while the "[[Far East]]" centered on [[China]].<ref name="davison">{{cite journal |author=Davison, Roderic H. |title=Where is the Middle East? |journal=Foreign Affairs |volume=38 |pages=p. 665–675 |year=1960}}</ref> The Middle East then meant the area from [[Mesopotamia]] to [[Myanmar|Burma]], namely the area between the Near East and the Far East. The sense described in this article evolved during the war, perhaps influenced by the ancient idea of the Mediterranean as the "sea in the middle".
One widely used definition of the "Middle East" is that of the [[airline industry]], maintained by the [[International Air Transport Association|IATA]] standards organization. This definition — as of early 2007 — includes [[Afghanistan]], [[Bahrain]], [[Egypt]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], [[Kuwait]], [[Lebanon]], [[Pakistan]], [[Palestinian territories]], [[Oman]], [[Qatar]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Sudan]], [[Syrian Arab Republic]], [[United Arab Emirates]], and [[Yemen]].<ref>[http://www.iata.org/ps/intelligence_statistics/cargois/middle_east.htm Middle East], IATA. Retrieved August 3, 2007.</ref> This definition is used in world-wide [[airfare]] and [[tax]] calculations for passengers and cargo.
===Criticism and usage===
Many have criticized the term ''Middle East'' for what they see as [[Eurocentrism]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Shohat, Ella |title=Redrawing American Cartographies of Asia |url= http://commposite.uqam.ca/videaz/docs/elshen.html |publisher=City University of New York |accessdate=2007-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Hanafi, Hassan |title=The Middle East, in whose world? |url=http://www.smi.uib.no/pao/hanafi.html |publisher=Nordic Society for Middle Eastern Studies |accessdate=2007-01-12}}</ref> because it was originally used by Europeans (although Mahan was American) and reflects the geographical position of the region from a European perspective. It is also criticized due to the fact that the term today is often used to only refer to the [[Arab world]], making the situation more confused.
[[Image:Mazar-e sharif - Steve Evans.jpg|thumb|Blue Mosque in [[Mazari Sharif]]]]
Today the term is used by Europeans and non-Europeans alike, unlike the similar term ''[[Mashreq]]'', used exclusively in Arabic-language contexts. The region is only east from the perspective of Europe. To an [[India]]n, it lies to the west; to a [[Russia]]n, it lies to the south. The description ''Middle'' has also led to some confusion over changing definitions. Before the [[World War I|First World War]], "Near East" was used in English to refer to the [[Balkans]] and the [[Ottoman Empire]], while "Middle East" referred to [[Iran]], [[Kurdistan]], [[Afghanistan]], present-day [[Pakistan]] and Central Asia, [[Turkestan]], and the [[Caucasus]]. In contrast, "Far East" referred to the countries of [[East Asia]] (e.g. China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, etc.). Some critics usually advise using an alternative term, such as "Western Asia." The official [[UN]] designation of the area is "Western Asia."
With the disappearance of the Ottoman Empire in [[1918]], "Near East" largely fell out of common use in English, while "Middle East" came to be applied to the re-emerging countries of the [[Islamic world]]. However, the usage of "Near East" was retained by a variety of academic disciplines, including [[archaeology]] and [[ancient history]], where it describes an area identical to the term ''Middle East'', which is not used by these disciplines (see [[Ancient Near East]]).
The [[Eisenhower Doctrine]], a 1957 foreign policy of the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]], was the first to officially use the term Middle East.<ref name="davison"/> Secretary of State [[John Foster Dulles]] defined the Middle East as "the area lying between and including [[Libya]] on the west and [[Pakistan]] on the east and Turkey on the North and the Arabian peninsula to the south, plus the [[Sudan]] and [[Ethiopia]]."<ref name="davison"/> In 1958, the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] explained that the terms "[[Near East]]" and "Middle East" were interchangeable, and defined the region as including only Egypt, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.<ref>{{cite news |title='Near East' is Mideast, Washington Explains |publisher=The New York Times |date=August 14, 1958}}</ref>
The [[Associated Press]] Stylebook says that Near East formerly referred to the farther west countries while Middle East referred to the eastern ones, but that now they are synonymous. It instructs:
<blockquote>Use ''Middle East'' unless ''Near East'' is used by a source in a story. ''Mideast'' is also acceptable, but ''Middle East'' is preferred.<ref>Goldstein, Norm. ''The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law''. New York: Basic Books, 2004. ISBN 0465004881 p. 156</ref></blockquote>
At the [[United Nations]], the numerous documents and resolutions about the '''Middle East''' are in fact concerned with the [[Arab-Israeli conflict]], in particular the [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]], and, therefore, with the four states of the [[Levant]]. The term '''Near East''' is occasionally heard at the UN when referring to this region.
===Translations===
[[Image:Blaue moschee 6minarette.jpg|thumb|The [[Sultan Ahmed Mosque]] (Blue Mosque) is one of the most famous [[Ottoman architecture|architectural legacies]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]]]]
There are terms similar to "Near East" and "Middle East" in other European languages, but since it is a relative description, the meanings depend on the country and are different from the English terms generally. In [[German language|German]] the term "[[:de:Naher Osten|Naher Osten]]" (Near East) is still in common use (although nowadays the term "Mittlerer Osten" is more and more common) and in [[Russian language|Russian]] [[:ru:Ближний Восток|''Ближний Восток'']] or "Blizhniy Vostok", [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] [[:bg:Близък Изток|''Близкия Изток'']], [[Polish language|Polish]] [[:pl:Bliski Wschód|''Bliski Wschód'']] or [[Croatian language|Croatian]] ''[[:hr:Bliski istok|Bliski istok]]'' (meaning ''Near East'' in all the four Slavic languages) remains as the only appropriate term for the region. However, some languages do have "Middle East" equivalents, such as the [[French language|French]] [[:fr:Moyen-Orient|Moyen-Orient]] and the [[Italian language|Italian]] [[:it:Medio Oriente|Medio Oriente]].<ref>In Italian, the expression "Vicino Oriente" (Near East) was also widely used to refer to Turkey, and "Estremo Oriente" (Far East or Extreme East) to refer to all of Asia east of Middle East</ref>.
Perhaps due to the influence of the Western press, the Arabic equivalent of “Middle East,” “الشرق الأوسط” (“<em>ash-sharq-l-awsat</em>”), has become standard usage in the mainstream Arabic press, comprehending the same meaning as the term “Middle East” in North American and Western European usage. The [[Persian language|Persian]] equivalent for Middle East is خاورمیانه (''Khāvarmiyāneh'' - Xâvarmiyâneh in "Unipers").
==History==
{{main |History of the Middle East}}
[[Image:Lady of Harissa.jpg|thumb|upright|Lady of Harissa Church in Lebanon]]
[[Image:Jerusalem kotel mosque.jpg|thumb|upright|The Temple Mount in Jerusalem]]
[[Image:Meshed ali usnavy (PD).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Imam Ali Mosque]], an important shrine in [[Najaf]]]]
The Middle East lies at the juncture of [[Eurasia]] and [[Africa]] and of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the [[Indian Ocean]]. It is the birthplace and [[Spirituality|spiritual]] center of the [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], [[Judaism]], [[Yezidi]], and in Iran, [[Mithraism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Manichaeism]], and the [[Bahá'í Faith]]. Throughout its history the Middle East has been a major center of world affairs; a strategically, economically, politically, culturally, and religiously sensitive area.
The earliest civilizations, [[Mesopotamia]] and [[ancient Egypt]], originated in the [[Fertile Crescent]] and [[Nile]] Valley regions of the [[ancient Near East]], as well as the civilizations of the [[History of the Levant|Levant]], [[History of Iran|Persia]], and [[Arabian Peninsula]]. The Middle East region was first unified under the [[Achaemenid Empire]] followed later by the [[Macedonian Empire]]. It would be the [[Arab Empire|Arab Caliphates]] of the [[Middle Ages]], however, that would first unify the Middle East as a distinct region and create the dominant [[Arab|ethnic identity]] that persists today. The [[Seljuk Empire]] would also later dominate the region..
The modern Middle East began after [[World War I]], when the [[Ottoman Empire]], which was allied with the defeated [[Central Powers]], was [[partitioning of the Ottoman Empire|partitioned]] into a number of separate nations. Other defining events in this transformation included the establishment of [[Israel]] in 1948 and the departure of European powers, notably [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and [[France]]. They were supplanted in some part by the rising influence of the [[United States]].
In the 20th century, the region's significant stocks of [[crude oil]] gave it new strategic and economic importance. Mass production of oil began around 1945, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates having large quantities of oil.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Concise History of the Middle East |author=Goldschmidt Jr., Arthur |publisher=Westview Press |year=1999 |pages=p.8}}</ref> Estimated [[Oil reserves#Oil reserves by country|oil reserves]], especially in Saudi Arabia and Iran, are some of the highest in the world, and the international oil cartel [[OPEC]] is dominated by Middle Eastern countries.
During the Cold War, the Middle East was a theater of ideological struggle between the two superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union, as they competed to influence regional allies. Of course, besides the political reasons there was also the "ideological conflict" between the two systems. Moreover, as Louise Fawcett argues, among many important areas of contention, or perhaps more accurately of anxiety, were, first, the desires of the superpowers to gain strategic advantage in the region, second, the fact that the region contained some two thirds of the world's oil reserves in a context where oil was becoming increasingly vital to the economy of the Western world [...]<ref>Louise, Fawcett. ''International Relations of the Middle East''. (Oxford University Press, New York, 2005)</ref> Within this contextual framework, the United States sought to divert the Arab world from Soviet influence. Throughout the 20th and into the 21st century, the region has experienced both periods of relative peace and tolerance and periods of conflict and war. Current issues include the [[Iraq War]], [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]], and the [[Nuclear program of Iran|Iranian nuclear program]].
{{see|List of conflicts in the Middle East}}
==Geography==
The Middle East defines a geographical area, but does not have precisely defined borders. The modern definition of the region includes: [[Bahrain]], [[Egypt]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], [[Kuwait]], [[Lebanon]], [[Oman]], the [[Palestinian territories]], [[Qatar]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Syria]], [[Turkey]], the [[United Arab Emirates]], and [[Yemen]]. Egypt, with its [[Sinai Peninsula]] in [[Asia]], is considered part of the Middle East, although most of the country lies geographically in [[North Africa]]. According to international media, North African nations without Asian links, such as [[Libya]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Algeria]], are increasingly being called [[North Africa]]n. [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]], and [[Iran]] are also increasingly listed as Middle Eastern countries.
{{see|List of Middle Eastern countries}}
The Middle East is primarily [[arid]] and [[semi-arid]], and can be subject to [[drought]]; nonetheless, there exists vast expanses of forests and fertile valleys. The region consists of [[grassland]]s, [[rangeland]]s, [[desert]]s, and [[mountains]]; [[K2]] in northern [[Pakistan]] rises 8611 meters above sea level to become the highest peak in the Middle East.<ref name="ipcc-1997">{{cite book |url=http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc/regional/index.htm |chapter=Chapter 7: Middle East and Arid Asia |title=IPCC Special Report on The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability |publisher=Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) |date=1997}}</ref>. [[Water shortage]]s are a problem in many parts of the Middle East, with rapidly growing [[population]]s increasing demands for water, while [[salinization]] and [[pollution]] threaten water supplies.<ref name="ipcc-1997"/> Major rivers, including the [[Nile River|Nile]] and the [[Euphrates River|Euphrates]], provide sources for [[irrigation]] water to support [[agriculture]].
[[Image:Sanaa.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Sana'a]], the capital of [[Yemen]], is located in a mountainous region, and is designated a [[World Heritage Site]] for its [[architecture]]]]
[[Image:East Azerbaijan Moghan plain.jpg|thumb|Landscape of northwestern [[Iran]]]]
===Topography===
While Middle East mainly contains areas with low relief, portions of [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], and [[Yemen]] include mountainous terrain. The [[Anatolian Plateau]] is sandwiched between the [[Pontus Mountains]] and [[Taurus Mountains]] in Turkey. [[Mount Ararat]] in Turkey rises to 5,165 meters and [[K2]], located in [[Pakistan]] rises to 8,611 meters and is the highest peak in the Middle East.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Middle East: A Geographical Study |author=Beaumont, Peter, Gerald H. Blake, J. Malcolm Wagstaff |publisher=David Fulton |year=1988 |pages=p. 19}}</ref> The [[Zagros Mountains]] are located in Iran, in areas along its border with Iraq. The Central Plateau of Iran is divided into two [[drainage basin]]s. The northern basin is [[Dasht-e Kavir]] (Great Salt Desert), and [[Dasht-e-Lut]] is the southern basin.
In [[Yemen]], elevations exceed 3,700 meters in many areas, and [[Highland (geography)|highland]] areas extend north along the [[Red Sea]] coast and north into [[Lebanon]]. A [[Geologic fault|fault]]-zone also exists along the Red Sea, with continental [[rifting]] creating [[Trough (geology)|trough]]-like [[topography]] with areas located well-below [[sea level]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.llnl.gov/tid/lof/documents/pdf/235042.pdf |title=Preliminary Definition of Geophysical Regions for the Middle East and North Africa |author=Sweeney, Jerry J., William R. Walter |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref> The [[Dead Sea]], located on the border between the [[West Bank]], [[Israel]], and [[Jordan]], is situated at 418 m (1371 ft) below sea level, making it the [[Extremes on Earth|lowest point]] on the surface of the [[Earth]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=deadsea |title=ASTER Image Gallery: The Dead Sea |publisher=NASA}}</ref>
A large [[lowland]] belt is located on the [[Arabian Peninsula]], from central [[Iraq]], through [[Saudi Arabia]], and to [[Oman]] and the [[Arabian Sea]]. The [[Euphrates]] and [[Tigris]] rivers cut through the lowland belt in Iraq and flow into the [[Persian Gulf]]. [[Rub' al Khali|Rub'al KhāLī]], one of the world's largest sand deserts, spans the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula in Saudi Arabia, parts of Oman, the [[United Arab Emirates]] and Yemen. [[Jebel Akhdar (Oman)|Jebel al Akhdar]] is a small range of mountains located in northeastern Oman, bordering the [[Gulf of Oman]].
===Geology===
[[Image:Cedars in Lebanon.jpg|left|thumb|Cedar forest in winter, located in [[Lebanon]]]]
Three major [[plate tectonics|tectonic plates]] converge on the Middle East, including the [[African Plate|African]], [[Eurasian Plate|Eurasian]], and [[Arabian Plate|Arabian]] plates. The boundaries between the tectonic plates make up the [[Azores-Gibraltar Ridge]], extending across [[North Africa]], the [[Red Sea]], and into Iran.<ref name="beaumont-pg22">{{cite book |title=The Middle East: A Geographical Study |author=Beaumont, Peter, Gerald H. Blake, J. Malcolm Wagstaff |publisher=David Fulton |year=1988 |pages=p. 22}}</ref> The Arabian Plate is moving northward into the [[Anatolian Plate|Anatolian plate]] (Turkey) at the [[East Anatolian Fault]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/handbooks/arabianpages/mainframe.htm |title=The Arabian Plate |author=Muehlberger, Bill |publisher=NASA, Johnson Space Center}}</ref> and the boundary between the [[Aegean Sea Plate|Aegean]] and Anatolian plate in eastern Turkey is also [[seismic]]ally active.<ref name="beaumont-pg22"/>
===Water resources===
[[Image:Desert Qatar.JPG|thumb|Desert in [[Qatar]]]]
Several major [[aquifer]]s provide [[water]] to large portions of the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, two large aquifers of [[Palaeozoic]] and [[Triassic]] origins are located beneath the [[Jabal Tuwayq]] mountains and areas west to the Red Sea.<ref name="beaumont-86">{{cite book |title=The Middle East: A Geographical Study |author=Beaumont, Peter, Gerald H. Blake, J. Malcolm Wagstaff |publisher=David Fulton |year=1988 |pages=p. 86}}</ref> [[Cretaceous]] and [[Eocene]]-origin aquifers are located beneath large portions of central and eastern Saudi Arabia, including Wasia and Biyadh which contain amounts of both [[fresh water]] and [[saline water]].<ref name="beaumont-86"/> The [[Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System|Nubian aquifer]] system underlies large areas of North Africa.<ref name="beaumont-86"/> The [[Great Manmade River]] project in [[Libya]] utilizes an extensive network of [[Pipeline transport|pipelines]] to transport water from the Nubian aquifer to its population centers. [[Groundwater recharge]] for these deep rock aquifers is on the order of thousands of years, thus the aquifers are essentially [[non-renewable resources]].<ref name="beaumont-85">{{cite book |title=The Middle East: A Geographical Study |author=Beaumont, Peter, Gerald H. Blake, J. Malcolm Wagstaff |publisher=David Fulton |year=1988 |pages=p. 85}}</ref> Flood or furrow irrigation, as well as sprinkler methods, are extensively used for [[irrigation]], covering nearly 90,000 km² across the Middle East for agriculture.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fao.org/AG/agl/AGLW/aquastat/regions/neast/index6.stm |title=Water managed areas and irrigation |title=Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)}}</ref>
{{see|Geography of Asia|Geography of Saudi Arabia}}
{{Wide image|Yarden 044PAN2.JPG|2200px|The [[Sea of Galilee]]}}
==Territories and regions==
{{main|Regions of the Middle East}}
* [[Arabian Peninsula]] - [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Kuwait]], [[Qatar]], [[United Arab Emirates|U.A.E.]], [[Oman]], [[Yemen]] and [[Bahrain]]
* [[Mesopotamia]] - [[Iraq]]
* [[Persian Plateau]] - [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]]
* [[Anatolia]] - [[Turkey]]
* [[Levant|The Levant]] - [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]] and [[Israel]]
* [[Northern Africa]] - [[Algeria]], [[Egypt]], [[Libya]], [[Morocco]] and [[Tunisia]]
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border:1px solid #aaa; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%"
|- bgcolor="#ECECEC"
! [[Country]], with [[flag]]
! [[List of countries by area|Area]]<br/>(km²)
! [[List of countries by population|Population]]
! [[List of countries by population density|Density]]<br/>(per km²)
! [[Capital]]
! [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] (Total)
! Per capita
! [[Currency]]
! [[Government]]
! [[Official languages]]
! [[Coat of Arms]]
|-
| colspan=11 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Persian Plateau]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Iran}}
| align="right" | 1,648,195
| align="right" | 71,208,000
| align="right" | 42
| [[Tehran]]
| $852 billion
| $12,300
| [[Iranian rial]]
| [[Islamic Republic]]
| [[Persian language|Persian]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Iran.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Afghanistan}}
| align="right" | 647,500
| align="right" | 31,889,923
| align="right" | 46
| [[Kabul]]
| $32.4 billion
| $1,490
| [[Afghan afghani|Afghani]]
| [[Islamic Republic]]
| [[Afghan language|Persian, Pashto]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Afghanistan.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Pakistan}}
| align="right" | 880,940
| align="right" | 169,300,000
| align="right" | 206
| [[Islamabad]]
| $504.3 billion
| $3,320
| [[Pakistani Rupee]]
| [[Islamic Republic]]
| [[Urdu]], [[English language|English]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Pakistan.svg|50px]]
|-
| colspan=11 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Anatolia]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| align="right" | 783,562
| align="right" | 70,586,256<ref>[http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=3894 Address-based Population Register System (2007 census). Results announced on January 20, 2008.]</ref> (2007)
| align="right" | 91
| [[Ankara]]
| $941.6 billion<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=186&s=PPPGDP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=64&pr.y=3 IMF: World Economic Database, April 2008] Gross Domestic Product based on Purchasing-Power-Parity (PPP) valuation of country GDP. Figures for 2007 and 2008.</ref> (2008)
| $13,511<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=186&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a=&pr.x=90&pr.y=7 IMF: World Economic Database, April 2008] Gross Domestic Product based on Purchasing-Power-Parity (PPP) valuation of per capita GDP. Figures for 2007 and 2008.</ref> (2008)
| [[Turkish new lira]]
| [[Parliamentary Democracy]]
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
| [[Image:Türkiye arması.svg|50px]]
|-
| colspan=11 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Mesopotamia]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Iraq}}
| align="right" | 437,072
| align="right" | 24,001,816
| align="right" | 55
| [[Baghdad]]
| $90 billion
| $3,600
| [[Iraqi dinar]]
| [[Parliamentary Democracy]] (Developing)
| [[Arabic]], [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Iraq.svg|50px]]
|-
| colspan=11 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Arabian Peninsula]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Kuwait}}
| align="right" | 17,820
| align="right" | 3,100,000
| align="right" | 119
| [[Kuwait City]]
| $136 billion
| $55,400
| [[Kuwaiti dinar]]
| [[Constitutional]] [[Hereditary]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:KUW-coat-of-arms-logo.gif|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Bahrain}}
| align="right" | 665
| align="right" | 656,397
| align="right" | 987
| [[Manama]]
| $14 billion
| $20,500
| [[Bahraini Dinar]]
| [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Bahrain.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Oman}}
| align="right" | 212,460
| align="right" | 3,200,000
| align="right" | 13
| [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]]
| $54 billion
| $17,000
| [[Omani rial|Omani Rial]]
| [[Absolute monarchy]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Oman.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Qatar}}
| align="right" | 11,437
| align="right" | 793,341
| align="right" | 69
| [[Doha]]
| $69 billion
| $75,400
| [[Qatari riyal|Qatari Riyal]]
| [[Monarchy]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Qatar.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| align="right" | 1,960,582
| align="right" | 23,513,330
| align="right" | 12
| [[Riyadh]]
| $446 billion
| $21,200
| [[Saudi riyal|Riyal]]
| [[Absolute monarchy]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia.png|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| align="right" | 82,880
| align="right" | 4,496,000
| align="right" | 30
| [[Abu Dhabi]]
| $146 billion
| $55,200
| [[UAE dirham]]
| [[Federation|Federal]] [[Constitutional Monarchy]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of United Arab Emirates.png|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Yemen}}
| align="right" | 527,970
| align="right" | 18,701,257
| align="right" | 35
| [[Sanaá]]
| $52 billion
| $2,400
| [[Yemeni rial]]
| [[Republic]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of Arm of Yemen.jpg|60px]]
|-
| colspan=11 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[The Levant]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Israel}}
| align="right" | 20,770
| align="right" | 7,029,529
| align="right" | 290
| [[Jerusalem]]<sup>1</sup>
| $177 billion
| $26,200
| [[Israeli new sheqel]]
| [[Parliamentary democracy]]
| [[Hebrew]], [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Israel.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Jordan}}
| align="right" | 92,300
| align="right" | 5,307,470
| align="right" | 58
| [[Amman]]
| $28 billion
| $5,100
| [[Jordanian dinar]]
| [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of Jordan.png|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Lebanon}}
| align="right" | 10,452
| align="right" | 3,677,780
| align="right" | 354
| [[Beirut]]
| $24 billion
| $5,700
| [[Lebanese lira]]
| [[Republic]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of Arms of Lebanon.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Syria}}
| align="right" | 185,180
| align="right" | 17,155,814
| align="right" | 93
| [[Damascus]]
| $72 billion
| $5,400
| [[Syrian pound]]
| [[Presidential republic]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Syria.svg|50px]]
|-
| colspan=11 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Northern Africa]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Algeria}}
| align="right" | 2,381,740
| align="right" | 33,333,216
| align="right" | 14
| [[Algiers]]
| $253 billion
| $7,700
| [[Algerian dinar]]
| [[Presidential republic]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Algeria.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Egypt}}
| align="right" | 1,001,449
| align="right" | 77,498,000
| align="right" | 74
| [[Cairo]]
| $334 billion
| $4,200
| [[Egyptian pound]]
| [[Semi-presidential republic]] ([[democracy]])
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Egypt.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Libya}}
| align="right" | 1,759,540
| align="right" | 6,036,914
| align="right" | 3
| [[Tripoli]]
| $75 billion
| $12,700
| [[Libyan dinar]]
| [[Jamahiriya]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Libya.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Morocco}}
| align="right" | 446,550
| align="right" | 33,757,175
| align="right" | 70
| [[Rabat]]
| $152 billion
| $4,600
| [[Moroccan dirham]]
| [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:COA Kingdom of Morocco.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Tunisia}}
| align="right" | 163,610
| align="right" | 10,102,000
| align="right" | 62
| [[Tunis]]
| $98 billion
| $9,630
| [[Tunisian dinar]]
| [[Republic]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Tunisia.svg|50px]]
|-
| colspan=11 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Autonomous region]]: [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestine]]''':
|-
| {{flagicon|Palestine}} [[Gaza Strip]]
| align="right" | 360
| align="right" | 1,376,289
| align="right" | 3,823
| [[Gaza]]
| $0.8 billion
| $600
| [[Israeli new sheqel]]
| [[Palestinian National Authority]] [[Hamas]]
| [[Arabic]]
| <!-- no separate rationale for this article [[Image:HamasLogo.jpg|50px]] -->
|-
| {{flagicon|Palestine}} [[West Bank]]
| align="right" | 5,860<sup>2</sup>
| align="right" | 2,500,000<sup>3</sup>
| align="right" | 432<sup>2,3</sup>
| [[Ramallah]]
|
|
| [[Israeli new sheqel]]
| [[Palestinian National Authority]] [[Fatah]]
| [[Arabic]]
| [[Image:Palestinian National Authority COA.svg|50px]]
|}
<small><sup>1</sup> Under Israeli law. The UN doesn't recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
<sup>2</sup> Includes the whole of the West Bank, according to the pre-1967 boundaries.
<sup>3</sup> In addition, there are around 400,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, of which half are in East-Jerusalem.</small>
''Source:''
*[[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA), 14 November 2006. [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2001.html]
==Demographics==
===Ethnic groups===
{{main|Ethnic groups of the Middle East}}
[[Image:Ede ethnic groups.jpg|250px|thumb|Various ethnic and religious types in the Middle East, 19th century]]
The Middle East is home to numerous [[ethnic groups]], including [[Arab]]s, [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Persian people|Persians]], [[Jew]]s, [[Armenians]], [[Georgians]], [[Egyptians]], [[Kurds]], [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]]-[[Syriacs]], [[Azeris]], [[Circassians]], [[Berber people|Berber]]s, [[Somali people|Somalis]], [[Greeks]], [[Samaritans]], [[Turkmen people|Turkmens]], [[Pashtuns]], [[Baluch]], [[Habesha]], and [[Nubians]].
===Religions===
{{main|Religion in the Middle East|Christianity in the Middle East}}
The Middle East is very diverse when it comes to [[religions]], most of which originated there. [[Islam]] in its many forms is by far the largest religion in the Middle East, but other faiths, such as [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]], are also important. There are also important minority religions like [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]], [[Druze]], [[Yazdanism]], [[Zoroastrianism]].
===Languages===
Languages of the Middle East span many different families, including [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]], [[Afro-Asiatic languages|Afro-Asiatic]], and [[Altaic languages|Altaic]].
[[Arabic language|Arabic]] in its [[Varieties of Arabic|numerous varieties]] and [[Persian language|Persian]] are most widely spoken in the region, with Arabic being the most widely spoken language in the Arab countries. Other languages spoken in the region include [[Armenian language|Armenian]], [[Syriac]] (a form of [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]]), [[Azerbaijani language|Azeri]], [[Berber languages]], [[Circassian]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Gilaki language]] and [[Mazandarani language]]s, [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] in its [[Jewish languages|numerous varieties]], [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]], [[Luri]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]] and other [[Turkic languages]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Somali language|Somali]], [[Greek language|Greek]]. In Turkey, [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]], [[Dimli]] (or Zaza), [[Azeri]], [[Kabardian]], and [[Gagauz]] languages are spoken, in addition to the [[Turkish language]]. Several [[modern South Arabian languages]] are also spoken.
[[English language|English]] is also spoken, especially among the [[middle class|middle]] and [[upper class]], in countries such as [[Egypt]], [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], [[Iraq]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Kuwait]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jo.html#People |title=World Factbook - Jordan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ku.html |title=World Factbook - Kuwait}}</ref> [[French language|French]] is spoken in Algeria, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Egypt. [[Urdu]] is spoken in many Middle Eastern countries, such as Pakistan and Arab states the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Qatar, which have large numbers of [[Pakistan]]i immigrants. The largest [[Romanian language|Romanian]]-speaking community in the Middle East is found in [[Israel]], where [[as of 1995]] Romanian is spoken by 5% of the population.<ref>According to the 1993 ''Statistical Abstract of Israel'' there were 250,000 Romanian speakers in Israel, at a population of 5,548,523 (census 1995).</ref><ref>[http://www.eurojewcong.org/ejc/news.php?id_article=110 Reports of about 300,000 Jews that left the country after WW2]</ref> Romanian is spoken mostly as a secondary language by people from Arab-speaking countries that made their studies in [[Romania]]. It is estimated that almost half a million Middle Eastern [[Arabs]] studied in Romania during the 1980s.<ref>[http://www.evz.ro/article.php?artid=185041 Evenimentul Zilei]</ref> [[Russian language]] is also spoken by a large portion of the Israeli population, due to emigration in the late 1990s.
==Economy==
Middle Eastern economies range from nations being very poor (such as Gaza and Yemen) to extremely wealthy nations (such as UAE and Saudi Arabia). Overall, as of 2007, according to the CIA World Factbook, all nations in the Middle East are maintaining a positive rate of growth.
According to the [[International Monetary Fund]]'s World Economic Outlook Database of April 2008, the three largest Middle Eastern economies in 2007 were Turkey ($ 663,419,000,000), Saudi Arabia ($ 376,029,000,000) and Iran ($ 294,089,000,000) in terms of [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|Nominal GDP]]<ref>IMF, World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008: Nominal GDP list of countries in 2007: [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2007&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C446%2C914%2C666%2C612%2C668%2C614%2C672%2C311%2C946%2C213%2C137%2C911%2C962%2C193%2C674%2C122%2C676%2C912%2C548%2C313%2C556%2C419%2C678%2C513%2C181%2C316%2C682%2C913%2C684%2C124%2C273%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C522%2C692%2C622%2C694%2C156%2C142%2C624%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C283%2C228%2C853%2C924%2C288%2C233%2C293%2C632%2C566%2C636%2C964%2C634%2C182%2C238%2C453%2C662%2C968%2C960%2C922%2C423%2C714%2C935%2C862%2C128%2C716%2C611%2C456%2C321%2C722%2C243%2C942%2C248%2C718%2C469%2C724%2C253%2C576%2C642%2C936%2C643%2C961%2C939%2C813%2C644%2C199%2C819%2C184%2C172%2C524%2C132%2C361%2C646%2C362%2C648%2C364%2C915%2C732%2C134%2C366%2C652%2C734%2C174%2C144%2C328%2C146%2C258%2C463%2C656%2C528%2C654%2C923%2C336%2C738%2C263%2C578%2C268%2C537%2C532%2C742%2C944%2C866%2C176%2C369%2C534%2C744%2C536%2C186%2C429%2C925%2C178%2C746%2C436%2C926%2C136%2C466%2C343%2C112%2C158%2C111%2C439%2C298%2C916%2C927%2C664%2C846%2C826%2C299%2C542%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698%2C941&s=NGDPD&grp=0&a=&pr.x=63&pr.y=7]</ref>; and Turkey ($ 887,964,000,000), Iran ($ 752,967,000,000) and Saudi Arabia ($ 564,561,000,000) in terms of [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|GDP-PPP]].<ref>IMF, World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008: GDP-PPP list of countries in 2007: [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2007&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C446%2C914%2C666%2C612%2C668%2C614%2C672%2C311%2C946%2C213%2C137%2C911%2C962%2C193%2C674%2C122%2C676%2C912%2C548%2C313%2C556%2C419%2C678%2C513%2C181%2C316%2C682%2C913%2C684%2C124%2C273%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C522%2C692%2C622%2C694%2C156%2C142%2C624%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C283%2C228%2C853%2C924%2C288%2C233%2C293%2C632%2C566%2C636%2C964%2C634%2C182%2C238%2C453%2C662%2C968%2C960%2C922%2C423%2C714%2C935%2C862%2C128%2C716%2C611%2C456%2C321%2C722%2C243%2C942%2C248%2C718%2C469%2C724%2C253%2C576%2C642%2C936%2C643%2C961%2C939%2C813%2C644%2C199%2C819%2C184%2C172%2C524%2C132%2C361%2C646%2C362%2C648%2C364%2C915%2C732%2C134%2C366%2C652%2C734%2C174%2C144%2C328%2C146%2C258%2C463%2C656%2C528%2C654%2C923%2C336%2C738%2C263%2C578%2C268%2C537%2C532%2C742%2C944%2C866%2C176%2C369%2C534%2C744%2C536%2C186%2C429%2C925%2C178%2C746%2C436%2C926%2C136%2C466%2C343%2C112%2C158%2C111%2C439%2C298%2C916%2C927%2C664%2C846%2C826%2C299%2C542%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698%2C941&s=PPPGDP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=48&pr.y=17]</ref> When it comes to per capita (PPP) based income, the three highest ranking countries are the UAE ($49,700), Qatar ($29,800) and Kuwait ($23,100). The two lowest ranking countries in the Middle East, in terms of per capita income (PPP) are Yemen ($1,000 as of 2006) and Iraq ($1,900 as of 2006).
The economic structure of Middle Eastern nations are different in the sense that while some nations are heavily dependent on export of only oil and oil-related products (such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait), others have a highly diverse economic base (such as Turkey and Egypt). Industries of the Middle Eastern region includes oil and oil-related products, agriculture, cotton, cattle, dairy, textiles, leather products, surgical instruments, defence equipment (guns, ammunition, tanks, submarines, fighter jets, UAVs, and missiles). Banking is also an important sector of the economies especially in the case of UAE, and Bahrain. Tourism, with the exception of Turkey and Egypt, remains largely unexplored and is underdeveloped due to the conservative nature of the region as well as the political turmoil in certain regions of the Middle East. In recent years, however, countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, and Jordan have begun experiencing greater number of tourists due to improving tourist facilities and the relaxing of tourism-related policies.
===Major economic and financial centers===
<center>
<gallery>
Image:Abu Dhabi Corniche Mall.jpg|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Abu Dhabi]], [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]
Image:Dubai night skyline.jpg|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]
Image:BeirutSkyLine.jpg|{{flagicon|Lebanon}} [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]]
Image:Cairo by night.jpg|{{flagicon|Egypt}} [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]]
Image:Kingdom Tower at night.JPG|{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]]
Image:Tehran skyline may 2007.jpg|{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
Image:Elahiyeh.gif|{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Shemiran]], [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
Image:TelAvivCity.jpg|{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]]
Image:Levent_financial_district_in_Istanbul.jpg|{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Levent]], [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]]
Image:Skyline of Maslak in Istanbul on June 23 2005.jpg|{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Maslak]], [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]]
Image:Armada Tower Ankara.jpg|{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Ankara]], [[Turkey]]
Image:Izmir from Konak Pier.jpg|{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[İzmir]], [[Turkey]]
</gallery>
</center>
==See also==
* [[Fertile Crescent]]
* [[Greater Middle East]]
* [[History of the Middle East]]
* [[List of conflicts in the Middle East]]
* [[Middle East Institute]]
* [[Middle East Studies Association of North America]]
* [[Maayan]] Middle East poetry magazine
* [[Near East]]
* [[Central Asia]]
* [[Orientalism]]
* [[Western Asia]]
* [[Timeline of Middle Eastern History]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
Anderson, R., Seibert, R., & Wagner, J. ''Politics and Change in the Middle East'', 8th Ed. (N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2006).
==External links==
*[http://www.cfr.org/region/397/middle_east.html "Middle East"] - [[Council on Foreign Relations]]: "A Resource for Nonpartisan Research and Analysis"
*[http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/mideast/ Middle East Department] [[University of Chicago]] Library
*''[http://www.meed.com Middle East Economic Digest]'': "The leading information source on business in the Middle East" - magazine website
*[http://news.yahoo.com/i/736 Middle East News] from Yahoo! News
*{{dmoz|Regional/Middle_East/}}
*[http://www.arabianbusiness.com/ Middle East Business, Financial & Industry News] — ''ArabianBusiness.com''
{{commons}}
{{wiktionary}}
{{wikinews}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Wikipedia_-_Middle_East.ogg|2008-03-28}}
{{Countries and territories of the Middle East}}
{{Regions of the world}}
<!--Interwiki-->
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Middle East| ]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:North Africa]]
<!--Other languages-->
[[ar:الشرق الأوسط]]
[[an:Orient Meyo]]
[[ast:Oriente Mediu]]
[[az:اورتاشرق]]
[[bs:Bliski Istok]]
[[bg:Близък Изток]]
[[ca:Orient Pròxim]]
[[cv:Çывăх Тухăç]]
[[cs:Blízký východ]]
[[cy:Y Dwyrain Canol]]
[[da:Mellemøsten]]
[[de:Naher Osten]]
[[et:Lähis-Ida]]
[[el:Μέση Ανατολή]]
[[es:Oriente Medio]]
[[eo:Mezoriento]]
[[eu:Ekialde Ertaina]]
[[fa:خاورمیانه]]
[[fo:Miðeystur]]
[[fr:Moyen-Orient]]
[[gl:Oriente Medio]]
[[zh-classical:中東]]
[[ko:중동]]
[[hi:मध्यपूर्व]]
[[hr:Srednji istok]]
[[id:Timur Tengah]]
[[is:Mið-Austurlönd]]
[[it:Medio Oriente]]
[[he:המזרח התיכון]]
[[jv:Timur Tengah]]
[[sw:Mashariki ya Kati]]
[[ku:Rojhilata Navîn]]
[[la:Oriens Medius]]
[[lv:Tuvie Austrumi]]
[[lt:Artimieji Rytai]]
[[hu:Közel-Kelet]]
[[mk:Близок Исток]]
[[nl:Midden-Oosten]]
[[ja:中東]]
[[no:Midtøsten]]
[[nrm:Êst du Mitan]]
[[nds:Nahoost]]
[[pl:Bliski Wschód]]
[[pt:Médio Oriente]]
[[ksh:Medtlerre Oßte]]
[[ro:Orientul Mijlociu]]
[[ru:Средний Восток]]
[[scn:Mediu Urienti]]
[[simple:Middle East]]
[[sk:Blízky východ]]
[[sl:Bližnji vzhod]]
[[sr:Блиски Исток]]
[[fi:Lähi-itä]]
[[sv:Mellanöstern]]
[[tl:Gitnang Silangan]]
[[ta:மத்திய கிழக்கு நாடுகள்]]
[[kab:Agmuḍ alemmas]]
[[th:ตะวันออกกลาง]]
[[vi:Trung Đông]]
[[tr:Orta Doğu]]
[[udm:Матысь Шунды ӝужан пал]]
[[uk:Середній Схід]]
[[ur:مشرقی وسطٰی]]
[[wo:Penku gu Diggu]]
[[yi:מיטל מזרח]]
[[zh-yue:中東]]
[[zh:中东地区]]