The Middle East The term is European in origin. First used in the mid-nineteenth century. It came to prominence in the early 20th century (after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Refers to West Asia and Egypt. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea in the West, the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean in the South, Central, India and China to the East, Russia to the North.

The Middle East Can include North Africa which is Islamic, Arabic speaking and significantly ethnically Arabic. Can include Afghanistan.

The Middle East Predominately Islamic. Christians in places like Lebanon and Egypt. Jews used to be found throughout the Middle East - now only in Israel. Arabic is the Lingua Franca. Iran and Turkey are two significant non-Arabic speaking countries in the region. Large deposits throughout the Persian Gulf region.

The Ottoman Empire 1299 - 1923

European Colonialism in the Middle East - 1912