Middle East

The Middle East (or West Asia) sits where Africa, Asia and Europe meet. The countries of the Middle East are all part of Asia, but for clarity reasons we geographically show them here as a separate landmass. As a point-of-interest, Armenia and Azerbaijan have long been associated with the Middle East, but in recent years, some sources now consider them to be more closely aligned with Europe based on their modern economic and political trends. We have moved in that direction, and the same applies for the island country of Cyprus, as it does for Georgia, the former Russian republic. Here we attempt to show the modern definition of the Middle East, but in the world of geography, there are often many answers (or personal or political opinions) to what appears to be a simple question.

GDP Total: $4,486,110 trillion (2009) GDP per capita: $16,619 (2009) Major Languages: Arabic, English, Persian, Turkish and many others Population: 438,656,000 (2009 est) Turkey: (73,914,000) Iran: (71,208,000) Afghanistan: (31,889,000) Iraq: (31,001,000) Uzbekistan: (27,372,000) Yemen: (23,701,000) Saudi Arabia: (23,513,000) Syria: (22,505,000) Azerbaijan: (8,621,000) Israel: (7,465,000) Saudi Arabia: 1,960,582 sq km Iran: 1,648,195 sq km Egypt: 1,002,450 sq km Turkey: 783, 562 sq km

Afghanistan: 647,500 sq km Yemen: 527,970 sq km Turkmenistan: 488,100 sq km Uzbekistan: 447,400 sq km Iraq: 437,072 sq km Oman: 221,460 sq km

Size: 8,804,395 sq km, 3,596,959 sq miles Percent of Earth's Land: 6.2% Highest Point: Mount Damavand, Iran, 18,406ft (5,610m) (see map) Lowest Point: Dead Sea, 423 m (1,388 ft) below sea level (see map) Geographic Center: 21 miles, 33.7 km northwest of Shiraz, Iran (see map) Largest Country: Saudi Arabia, 1,960,582 sq km, 756,985 sq miles Smallest Country: Bahrain, 665 sq km, 257 sq miles Horizontal Width: (as the crow flies) From Ankara, Turkey to Dushanbe, Tajikistan: 1,931 miles (3,107 km) (see map) Vertical Length: (as the crow flies) From Ankara, Turkey to Sana, Yemen: 1,796 miles (2,890 km) (see map) Note: Lengths and widths above are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections. They are curved slightly here to make the map text more readable. Note: Some sources still consider Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, and Sudan as part of the Middle East. Here we attempt to show the modern definition of the Middle East, but in the world of geography, there are often many answers (or personal or political opinions) to what appears to be a simple question, so consider this a guide, not absolute law. As a point-of-interest, Armenia and Azerbaijan have long been associated with the Middle East, but in recent years, some sources now consider them to be more closely aligned with Europe based on their modern economic and political trends. We have moved in that direction, and the same applies for the island country of Cyprus as it does for Georgia, the former Russian republic.

1 | 2Description (Page 1) Iran, the second largest country in the Middle East, has 5,000 years of fascinating history, and is home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations.

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran was unified as a nation in 625 BC by the Medes, and was first ruled by the Achaemenid Empire; succeeded by the Seleucid Empire, the Parthians and then the Sassanids until 651 AD. Muslims invaded Iran in 656, marking a turning point for their history, as the new Islamic policy became gradually absorbed into the Persian civilization.

Genghis Khan invaded Iran in 1218, and massacred more than half of the country's population. The past six centuries of Islamic influence were stripped away as the Mongols destroyed the culture, burned libraries and replaced mosques with Buddhist temples. Mongol commanders continued to rule Iran, even after Genghis' death in 1227, and remained there until the arrival of Timur in 1381. Timur conquered Iran piece by piece, and was known for his sheer brutality in getting what he wanted. Timur's successors continued to reign over much of Iran until 1452, at which point they lost the region to the Black Sheep Turkmen; who were in turn conquered by the White Sheep Turkmen in 1468.

However, it wasn't long before the Safavid dynasty took control, and it was under their ruling that Persia went through a revival. From the beginning, Sunnism was the dominant form of Islam in most of Iran, but as the Safavids' power over the region grew they initiated a religious policy to recognize Shi'a Islam as the official religion of the empire. The Safavid dynasty is also credited for founding the modern nation-state of Iran, as a significant portion of Iran's current borders originated during their reign.

By the early 1600's, the Safavid dynasty had become a major world power, and began the promotion of tourism to Iran. The dynasty lasted until the early 1700's, when Iran became the target of repeated raids, and were finally defeated by Mir Wais Khan in 1722. In the midst of chaos that ensued during this moment, the Ottomans and Russians took it upon

themselves to seize territory for themselves, and it was Nader Shah that restored the boundary lines and order to Iran. Nader was known as one of the last great conquerors ofAsia, but his cruel nature during his final years led to a series of revolts and his ultimate assassination in 1747. Following Nader's death, a period of anarchy in Iran prevailed as commanders fought for power, until the Qajar dynasty succeeded in becoming the new shahs. Aside from the Qajars, a few European countries, such as Great Britain, Russia, and France began establishing footholds in the region. During the early 20th century oil was discovered in Khuzestan by the British, which prompted an all too eager renewed interest in Persia, and both the United Kingdom and Russiascrambled to gain control of the area. The Great Game, as it had become known, divided Persia into several stretches of influence without regard to their national sovereignty. Iran was able to remain neutral through World War I, despite the occupation of British and Russian forces. In 1925, the Pahlavi dynasty was established, and was able to rise to power due to the instability of the Qajar government. Reza Shah Pahlavi ruled Iran until September 16, 1941, and successfully established an authoritarian government that valued nationalism, militarism, secularism and anti-communism combined with strict censorship and state propaganda.

During World War II, Reza Shah's son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi took over control of Iran, and there was a belief that the country would become a constitutional monarchy due to the fact that Mohammed was very hands-off with his role as leader in the beginning. However, after Operation Ajax, which was a formal coup d'etat to overthrow Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, brought on by the United Kingdomand the United States, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rule became progressively autocratic. Demonstrations against the Shah began in 1978, and by January 1979 Iran became an Islamic republic after the ruling Shah was forced into political exile. Iran was then thrust into the worldwide spotlight in November 1979, when Iranian students seized the USEmbassy in Tehran, and struggled through a bloody and disastrous (no win) eightyear-war with Iraq in the 1980s. Following the war, Iran's new government concentrated on rebuilding and strengthening the economy. And after the American invasion of Iraq in 2006 to overthrow Sadam Hussein, Iran's position within the region intensified.

The foundations of the Islamic Republic were challenged in 2009 during the Iranian presidential elections, as it was announced that president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won the election; however several western countries, as well as the EuropeanUnion and Iranian citizens expressed concerns of irregularities during the vote. Following the complaints, the Guardian Council announced a recount, and concluded that there were no discrepancies. Literally surrounded by the most tumultuous area on the planet, the rigidity of its own longstanding political and social policies have come under attack in recent years, and there's now a powerful and growing internal pressure for reform. The country is rich in natural gas and petroleum resources, and when that economic power is combined with its outwardly-friendly and hard working people, a troubled past certainly points to a bright future. And as for tourism, international travelers rave about Iran's natural beauty, as well as its ancient ruins, mosques and first-class museums.

Anatolian Plateau: This generally barren and arid plateau of central Turkey averages about 500 meters in elevation. Farming and livestock raising (the major industries), are difficult occupations here as extreme temperatures, both summer and winter are commonplace. Regardless, scattered towns and villages cover the landscape. An Nafud Desert: Part of the Arabian Desert, this desert of western Saudi Arabia is famous for gigantic sand dunes, some reaching over 100 ft.high. Ar Rub' Al Khali Desert: Known as the Empty Quarter, it's the largest (only sand) desert in the world and famed for huge

sand dunes that can extend for over 25 miles. A large part of the Arabian Desert, it covers most of southern Saudi Arabia, and is almost moistureless. The Ad Dahna' is the northern expanse that connects to the An Nafud Desert. Arabian Desert: The Arabian Desert, one of the largest deserts on the planet, is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. It occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, with an estimated area of 2,330,000 sq km (900,000 sq mi). Asir & Hejaz Mountains: Running along Saudi Arabia's border with the Red Sea, these two ranges of lower mountains averages 6,000 - 7,000 ft. (1,829 - 2,130 m) Caucasus Mountains: Positioned between the Black and Caspian Seas, these mountains dominate the landscape of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia where the Middle East begins. Volcanic peaks here exceed 15,000 ft., with the highest point being Mt. Elbrus at 18,481 ft. (5,633m). Dash e -Lut: Known as the Lout Desert, this region of eastern Iran is an arid, wind-blown desert, completely surrounded by mountains. In the summer months, it can be one of the hottest and driest spots on the planet. In some areas here rain has never been measured. Dash e -Kavir: This plateau of north-central Iran is often referred to as the "Great Salt Desert." It's the largest desert in the country and is mostly uninhabited wasteland covered with crusty salt ridges. Elburz Mountains: Extending for almost 620 miles along Iran's northern border with the Caspian Sea, these jagged mountains average over 9,000 ft, with the highest point being Mt. Damavand, a dormant volcano, at 18,602 ft. (5,670m). Hadramawt This low mountain range (and region) of Yemen averages about 3,500 ft. (1,067m), with the highest peak estimated at 8,000 ft. (2,440m). Hindu Kush These dramatic mountains form a natural border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with many snow-capped peaks reaching over 22,000 ft. The highest point is Tirich Mir at 25,282 ft. (7,706m). Kara Kum Desert This desert of south-central Turkmenistan is a large mass of sand known for its towering sand dunes extending in all directions. It's about 115,000 sq. miles in size. Pamir: This region and its namesake mountains stretch across much of Tajikistan and parts of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and similar to the Hindu Kush, numerous peaks exceed 22,000 ft, with the highest point being Pik Samani at 24,590 ft. (7,495m). Syrian Desert: A part of the Arabian Desert, and 200,000 sq, miles (518,000 sq, km) in size, it covers parts of Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and western Iraq. Very little rain falls in this wasteland, however, Arab nomads inhabit the desert, raising cattle and camels. Oil pipelines are commonplace, as well as scattered oases.

Taurus Mountains: This rugged chain extends across southern Turkey to its borders with Iraq and Iran. The highest point (Mt. Ararat) is located in the Eastern Taurus range. This extinct volcano is 16,583 ft. (5,137m) high. It is felt by biblical historians that Noah's Ark landed here. TheKoroglu and Ponic ranges stretch along the Black Sea coast of northern Turkey. Tien Shan: Stretching almost 1,500 miles across Kyrgyzstan and well into China, this multiple range of mountains (also known as Tian) commonly exceed 19,000 ft., with the highest point being Pik Pobeda at 24,407 ft. (7,439m). Zagros Mountains: This region and its namesake mountains stretch across much of Tajikistan and parts of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and similar to the Hindu Kush, numerous peaks exceed 22,000 ft, with the highest point being Pik Samani at 24,590 ft. (7,495m).

There are hundreds of interesting sites spread across the Middle East and these are but a few. For additional info and links explore the individual countries on the map.

Band-e Amir is a collection of six deep blue lakes in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush Mountains. As one of the few natural lakes created by travertine systems in the world, Band-e Amir is Afghanistan's first national park.... Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest manmade structure, and stands 2,723 ft. (829 m). Burj Khalifa officially opened its doors on January 4, 2010, and contains a mix of homes, hotels, parkland, and the Dubai Mall.... The Dead Sea is a sea of salt that borders Jordan, Israel and the West Bank. At 1,388 ft. (423 m) below sea level, it is Earth's lowest elevation on land; the deepest hypersaline lake at 1,237 ft. (377 m) deep; as well as one of the world's saltiest bodies of water with 33.7% salinity. The high level of saline creates a harsh environment non-supportive of life, hence its name.... Imam Ali Mosque is the third holiest site for Shi'a followers, and is located in Najaf, Iraq. It is visited by up to 8 million pilgrims a year, and, according to Shias, the Prophets Adam and Noah are buried within the mosque.... K2 is the second highest mountain on Earth, with an elevation of 28,251 ft. (8,611 m), and is located in Pakistan as part of the Karakoram range.... Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and is an ancient city in Ma'an, Jordan. Famous for its rock cut architecture, the structure was constructed around 1200 BC.... The Rub' al Khali, or Empty Quarter is one of the largest sand deserts in the world, encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula, including most of Saudi Arabia and areas of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The desert covers some 650,000 square kilometres (250,000 sq mi) .... The 'Tree of Life' is a 400 year old tree growing in Bahrain's arid desert, with no visible source of water....

Definition: A symbol is an idea, abstraction or concept, that has acquired significance as a representation of something else. Symbols are on occasion completely unrelated to the idea they represent.

Star and Crescent

Star of David

A Star and Crescent in some combination forms the basis of symbols widely found across the ancient world, with examples attested from the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asia. During the 1950s to 1960s, the symbol became symbolic of Islam or the Muslim community. The Star of David is recognized as a symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism. Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles. One triangle represents the ruling tribe of Judah and the other the former ruling tribe of Benjamin. For additional symbols used in the Middle East, follow the country map links...

Middle East Timeline:

12000 BC Small houses in pits developed in regions of Jordan and Syria 8000 BC Settlements at Nevali Cori in present-day Turkey established 5000 BC Wheel and plow invented 3000 BC Bronze Age begins 3100 BC Cuneiform writing invented 1867 BC Babylon founded by Amorite dynasty 1700 BC Windmills invented for irrigation purposes 1600-1360 BC Egypt dominates the region of Canaan and Syria 1250 BC Hebrews establish a kingdom in Palestine 1200-1050 BC Collapse of the Bronze Age 1041 BC Jerusalem designated the capital of the Kingdom of Israel 1000 BC Iron Age begins 600 BC Babylon conquered; Cyrus the Great creates the Persian Empire 331 BC Alexander the Great overpowers Persia 50 AD Christianity emerges 634 AD Series of Muslim conquests begins; Arab empire founded 759-1258 Baghdad becomes capital of Arab-Islamic empire; Middle East sees a period of success 1200 Mongols invade the Middle East ending the Arab-Islamic empire 1517-1918 Ottoman Empire extends through most of the Arab world 1900's

1901 Oil discovered in Iran 1914 World War I begins, Ottomans align with Germany 1918 World War I ends; Britain and France occupy much of the Middle East after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire 1919-1921 Franco-Syrian War; Syria divided into two mandates: French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon and the British mandate of Palestine 1921 Faisal becomes King of Iraq 1932 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia founded 1933-1936 Assyrians in Simele are massacred by Iraqi armed forces 1934 Saudi-Yemeni War 1935 Persia becomes Iran

1936 Jewish immigration to Palestine increases 1939 World War II begins 1939 Britain issues the White Paper limiting the number of Jewish immigrants into Palestine 1941 British forces overthrow Iraqi government and install pro-British leaders 1945 World War II ends; the League of Arab States founded 1946 Jordan, Lebanon and Syria gain independence from Britain and France 1946 Terrorists bomb the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, 91 killed 1947 Zionist leaders declare war on British in Palestine to get the 1939 White Paper cancelled 1947 UN proposes to divide Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state 1948 Britain withdraws forces from Palestine 1948 Arab-Israeli war develops after Israel declares independence 1949 Hassan Al-Banna assassinated 1950 West Bank annexed by Jordan 1951 Libya receives independence 1952 Hussein Ibn Talal declared King of Jordan 1954 Sudan becomes an officially recognized independent republic 1956 Jordan and Israel establish a truce 1958 Abdul-Karim overthrows Iraq monarch and prime minister 1959 Oil is discovered in Libya 1961 First Kurdish-Iraq War erupts in Iraq 1967 Israel occupies Sinai, Golan heights, West Bank and Gaza during Six-Day War 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War prevails 1976 Syria invades Lebanon 1979 Saddam Hussein becomes president of Iraq 1980-1989 Iran-Iraq War rages, casualties range in the millions 1982 Israel invades Lebanon to drive out PLO 1989 Syrian scholar Michel Aflaq dies 1990 North and South Yemen merge into the Republic of Yemen 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait 1991 The Gulf War begins in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait 1993 Oslo I agreement signed setting up Israeli-Palestinian Peace settlement 1995 Palestine granted full control of part of West Bank and Gaza after Oslo II agreement signed 1995 Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin assassinated 1998 Taliban inches closer to power in Kabul after a series of military victories 2000's

2000 Israeli troops vacate Lebanon 2003 The US, United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invade Iraq; Sadam Hussein removed from power 2004 Sa'dah insurgency in Yemen 2005 Cedar Revolution prompts Syrian troops to withdraw from Lebanon 2006 Saddam Hussein executed 2010 Arab Spring brings major protests, uprisings and revolutions to several Middle Eastern countries 2011-2012 Syrian uprising; thousands of citizens protest for the overthrow of the government; widespread marches, hunger strikes, rioting, and vandalism.