Explore the Middle East
Discover how geography, culture, trade routes, and empires shaped one of the most historically connected regions in the world.
What is the Middle East?
The Middle East is a modern term for a region mainly in Southwest Asia, where Europe, Asia, and Africa meet. It has long been a crossroads for trade, culture, religion, and ideas.
Important: The Middle East is not one country, and there is no single official border that everyone agrees on.
Countries generally included
- • Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen
- • Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria
- • Iraq, Iran
Sometimes included
- • Turkey
- • Egypt
- • Cyprus
Often called MENA (Middle East & North Africa).
The Middle East’s Role in World History
- • Some of the world’s earliest cities and trade routes developed here.
- • Writing and record-keeping helped societies organise government, learning, and business.
- • Laws and leadership systems influenced later empires and countries.
- • Major world religions began here and still shape lives today.
Our 3 Learning Regions
Modern borders don’t always match older cultural regions. To make learning clearer, we group the Middle East into three broad learning regions based on geography and history.
The Levant
Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine
Arabia
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen
Persia & Mesopotamia
Iran and Iraq
How to use: Tap a region on the map to open it, or use the buttons below. On mobile, it can help to zoom slightly for more accurate tapping.