The term Middle East was first used by a naval writer of the United States in a discussion of British imperial strategy

1902
The term Middle East was used to refer to the area where Asia, Africa, and Europe meet
Countries in the Middle East
Northeast Africa (Egypt and Libya)
Fertile Crescent countries (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel)
Nations of the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman)
Northern Tier (Turkey and Iran)
History is assumed to have begun in the ancient Middle East, specifically Egypt and Mesopotamia (Iraq), as it provides some of the earliest written records of human experience
The Middle East has attracted world-wide attention because of its vast oil resources
Africa, the neighbor of the Middle East, has emerged from isolation
Africa was a colony of European powers in the 19th century, achieved economic and social progress after attaining political independence, and retains much old alongside new, not only in agricultural tools and medical equipment but also in tradition
The interweaving of tradition and modernity in African society creates stress on individuals who must reconcile patterns of behavior separated by centuries
New African nations are confident of their place in the modern world as many of their rulers assume significant positions in the international community
