Is the Middle East a geographic region?

The Middle East is a large and diverse geographical area located in southwest Asia and northeast Africa. It extends over 2,000 miles from the Black Sea in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south, and about 1,000 miles from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the mountains of Iran.

Why is the Middle East a geographical concept?

The Middle East is a geographical region that has been of great importance in history since ancient times. Strategically located, it is a natural land bridge connecting the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. In recent times its enormous deposits of oil have made the Middle East more important than ever.

How would you describe the geography of the Middle East?

The physical geography of the Middle East is varied. Vast deserts are common in the region. Ease of movement in and out of the Middle East by water is also affected by the presence of a number of narrow water passageways. Gibraltar controls the water route linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

What is the Middle East why it is a controversial term?

A Controversial Term The “Middle East” is not a term Middle Easterners gave themselves, but a British term borne of a colonial, European perspective. The term’s origins are seeped in controversy for having originally been a European imposition of geographic perspective according to European spheres of influence.

What countries are classed as Middle East?

Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen.

What are the 5 regions of the Middle East?

The five main physical regions of the Middle East are the Northern Tier, Arabian Peninsula, Fertile Crescent, Nile Valley, and the Maghreb.

What is the strategic importance of the Middle East?

The political and psychological significance of the Middle East is a major part of its strategic importance. It is a symbolic and emotional area; here are centered the shrines of three of the world’s great religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

How has geography affected the Middle East?

Rivers allowing for productive agriculture were the key factor in the settling of cities. Mountain ranges kept cultures in separate areas, providing natural barriers to imperialist agendas. The rich, fertile soil of the Middle East led early civilizations to settle, domesticate plants and animals, and thrive.

What type of climate does the Middle East have?

Mediterranean climate
Although much of the Middle East region has a Mediterranean climate type, i.e. Csa in the widely used Koeppen classification (Oliver and Hidore, 1984) with wet winters and dry summers, the spatial gradients in climate are far sharper than in the broad prototype Csa region to the west.