History UsefulNotes / TheMiddleEast

* BellyDancer

The Greater Middle East political definition, coined in the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early 2000's]] by the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration, throws in the entirety of Maghreb/North UsefulNotes/{{Africa}} as far west as UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} (while the traditional Middle East only includes Egypt, as it is a transcontinental country in both North Africa and Western Asia), as well as UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}} in West Africa, UsefulNotes/{{Comoros}}, UsefulNotes/{{Djibouti}} and UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} in East Africa, and UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}}, UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}} and the UsefulNotes/{{Maldives}} in South Asia, fitting more closely with the UsefulNotes/ArabWorld and/or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world Muslim world]] (note that the three terms are ''not'' synonymous). The Caucasus and Central Asia are sometimes also included in the Greater Middle East due to sociopolitical connections. Some particularly ignorant individuals equate "The Middle East" with "anywhere where Muslims are the majority", which is a major mistake since hundreds of millions of Muslims live far away from the traditional Middle East, and in decidedly non-dry places too.[[note]]Sure, it is easy to conflate Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Middle East since they border Iran and have deserts, but do you really want to include lush, green UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}} as well? How about UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}? Furthermore, Southern Europe, which is very much a part of the West, has several Muslim-majority countries in UsefulNotes/{{Kosovo}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bosnia}} and UsefulNotes/{{Albania}}.[[/note]] The Near East, mainly in texts originating in Europe (both English and foreign texts), is described as the Levant[[note]]Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Hatay Province in Turkey[[/note]] plus Iraq, while the Middle East is the area around Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This can cause a mess for translators as well, so you always better make sure what the author's definition of the term is and preferably attach your own definition if writing about it yourself.

One of the world's most volatile regions, the traditional definition of the Middle East, pictured to the right and which the countries listed down below go by, are the countries of West UsefulNotes/{{Asia}} that are south of UsefulNotes/TheCaucasus.

The Greater Middle East political definition, coined in the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early 2000's]] by the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration, throws in the entirety of Maghreb/North UsefulNotes/{{Africa}} as far west as UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} (while the traditional Middle East only includes Egypt, as it is a transcontinental country in both North Africa and West Asia), as well as UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}} in West Africa, UsefulNotes/{{Comoros}}, UsefulNotes/{{Djibouti}} and UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} in East Africa, and UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}}, UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}} and the UsefulNotes/{{Maldives}} in South Asia, fitting more closely with the UsefulNotes/ArabWorld and/or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world Muslim world]] (note that the three terms are ''not'' synonymous). The Caucasus and Central Asia are sometimes also included in the Greater Middle East due to sociopolitical connections. Some particularly ignorant individuals equate "The Middle East" with "anywhere where Muslims are the majority", which is a major mistake since hundreds of millions of Muslims live far away from the traditional Middle East, and in decidedly non-dry places too.[[note]]Sure, it is easy to conflate Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Middle East since they border Iran and have deserts, but do you really want to include lush, green UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}} as well? How about UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}? Furthermore, Southern Europe, which is very much a part of the West, has several Muslim-majority countries in UsefulNotes/{{Kosovo}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bosnia}} and UsefulNotes/{{Albania}}.[[/note]] The Near East, mainly in texts originating in Europe (both English and foreign texts), is described as the Levant[[note]]Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Hatay Province in Turkey[[/note]] plus Iraq, while the Middle East is the area around Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This can cause a mess for translators as well, so you always better make sure what the author's definition of the term is and preferably attach your own definition if writing about it yourself.

One of the world's most volatile regions, the traditional definition of the Middle East, pictured to the right and which the countries listed down below go by, are the countries of Western UsefulNotes/{{Asia}} that are south of UsefulNotes/TheCaucasus.

The Greater Middle East political definition, coined in the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early 2000's]] by the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration, throws in the entirety of Maghreb/North UsefulNotes/{{Africa}} as far west as UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} (while the traditional Middle East only includes Egypt, as it is a transcontinental country in both North Africa and Western Asia), as well as UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}} in West Africa, UsefulNotes/{{Comoros}}, UsefulNotes/{{Djibouti}} and UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} in East Africa, and UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}}, UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}} and the UsefulNotes/{{Maldives}} in South Asia, fitting more closely with the UsefulNotes/ArabWorld and/or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world Muslim world]] (note that the three terms are ''not'' synonymous). The Caucasus and Central Asia are sometimes also included in the Greater Middle East due to sociopolitical connections. Some particularly ignorant individuals equate "The Middle East" with "anywhere where Muslims are the majority", which is a major mistake since hundreds of millions of Muslims live far away from the traditional Middle East, and in decidedly non-dry places too.[[note]]Sure, it is easy to conflate Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Middle East since they border Iran and have deserts, but do you really want to include lush, green UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}} as well? How about UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}? Furthermore, Southern Europe, which is very much a part of the West, has several Muslim-majority countries in UsefulNotes/{{Kosovo}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bosnia}} and UsefulNotes/{{Albania}}.[[/note]] The Near East, mainly in texts originating in Europe (both English and foreign texts), is described as the Levant[[note]]Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Hatay Province in Turkey[[/note]] plus Iraq, while the Middle East is the area around Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This can cause a mess for translators as well, so you always better make sure what the author's definition of the term is and preferably attach your own definition if writing about it yourself.

Ironically, if the Middle Eastern setting is a fantasy/sci-fi genre or biblical/historical, then don't be surprised to see White (Arnold Vosloo as Egyptian Imhotep in The Mummy), Black (Peter Mensah as the Persian messenger in 300), Far East Asian (Elodie Yung in Gods of Egypt) or Oceanic (Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam) actors playing Middle Eastern characters and historical figures. In fact, almost every other actor thats played Jesus is white. The only Asians to play Jesus so far are British Sri-Lankan/English actor Selva Rasalingam, Lebanese Haaz Sleiman and American Syrians Bruce Marchiano[[note]] his mother is Syrian[[/note]] and Jonathan Roumie[[note]] his parental grandfather is Syrian[[/note]].

Ironically, if the Middle Eastern setting is a fantasy/sci-fi genre or biblical/historical, then don't be surprised to see White (Arnold Vosloo as Egyptian Imhotep in The Mummy), Black (Peter Mensah as the Persian messenger in 300), Far East Asian (Elodie Yung in Gods of Egypt) or Oceanic (Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam) actors playing Middle Eastern characters and historical figures. In fact, almost every other actor thats played Jesus is white. The only Asians to play Jesus so far are British Sri-Lankan/English actor Selva Rasalingam, Lebanese Haaz Sleiman and American half-Egyptian Jonathan Roumie[[note]] his parental grandfather is Syrian[[/note]].

Ironically, if the Middle Eastern setting is a fantasy/sci-fi genre or biblical/historical, then don't be surprised to see White (Arnold Vosloo as Egyptian Imhotep in The Mummy), Black (Peter Mensah as the Persian messenger in 300), Far East Asian (Elodie Yung in Gods of Egypt) or Oceanic (Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam) actors playing Middle Eastern characters and historical figures. In fact, almost every other actor thats played Jesus is white. The only Asians to play Jesus so far are British Sri-Lankan/English actor Selva Rasalingam and Lebanese Haaz Sleiman.

One of the world's most volatile regions, the traditional definition of the Middle East, pictured to the right and which the countries listed down below go by, are the countries of Western Asia that are south of UsefulNotes/TheCaucasus.

The Greater Middle East political definition, coined in the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early 2000's]] by the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration, throws in the entirety of North UsefulNotes/{{Africa}} as far west as UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} (while the traditional Middle East only includes Egypt, as it is a transcontinental country in both North Africa and Western Asia), as well as UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}} in West Africa, UsefulNotes/{{Comoros}}, UsefulNotes/{{Djibouti}} and UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} in East Africa, and UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}}, UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}} and the UsefulNotes/{{Maldives}} in South Asia, fitting more closely with the UsefulNotes/ArabWorld and/or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world Muslim world]] (note that the three terms are ''not'' synonymous). The Caucasus and Central Asia are sometimes also included in the Greater Middle East due to sociopolitical connections. Some particularly ignorant individuals equate "The Middle East" with "anywhere where Muslims are the majority", which is a major mistake since hundreds of millions of Muslims live far away from the traditional Middle East, and in decidedly non-dry places too.[[note]]Sure, it is easy to conflate Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Middle East since they border Iran and have deserts, but do you really want to include lush, green UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}} as well? How about UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}? Furthermore, Southern Europe, which is very much a part of the West, has several Muslim-majority countries in UsefulNotes/{{Kosovo}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bosnia}} and UsefulNotes/{{Albania}}.[[/note]] The Near East, mainly in texts originating in Europe (both English and foreign texts), is described as the Levant[[note]]Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Hatay Province in Turkey[[/note]] plus Iraq, while the Middle East is the area around Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This can cause a mess for translators as well, so you always better make sure what the author's definition of the term is and preferably attach your own definition if writing about it yourself.

In the case of casting "Middle Eastern" characters in the western world. Casting could look for anyone from Morocco [[note]] in North Africa [[/note]] to Bangladesh [[note]] in South Asia [[/note]] and everything in between. So not uncommon to see Indians playing Arab (Naveeen Andrews as Iraqi Sayyid Jarrah in Lost), Arabs playing South Asians (Fady Elsayed as Ram Singh in Class), Iranians playing Bangladeshis (Golshifteh Farahani as Nik Khan in Extraction), etc.
Ironically if the Middle Eastern setting is a fantasy/sci-fi genre or biblical/historical then dont be surprised to see White (Arnold Vosloo as Egyptian Imhotep in The Mummy), Black (Peter Mensah as the a Persian messenger in 300), Far East Asian (Elodie Yung in Gods of Egypt) or Oceanic (Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam) actors playing Middle Eastern characters and historical figures. In fact, almost every other actor thats played Jesus is white. The only Asians to play Jesus so far are British Sri-Lankan/English actor Selva Rasalingam and Lebanese Haaz Sleiman.

* LumberMillMayhem

* MatzoFever

Ironically if the Middle Eastern setting is a fantasy/sci-fi genre or biblical/historical then dont be surprised to see White (Arnold Vosloo as Egyptian Imhotep in The Mummy), Black (Peter Mensah as the a Persian messenger in 300), Far East Asian (Elodie Yung in Gods of Egypt) or Oceanic (Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam) actors playing Middle Eastern characters and historical figure. In fact, almost every other actor thats played Jesus is white. The only Asians to play Jesus so far are British Sri-Lankan/English actor Selva Rasalingam and Lebanese Haaz Sleiman.

The Greater Middle East political definition, coined in the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early 2000's]] by the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration, throws in the entirety of North UsefulNotes/{{Africa}} as far west as UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} (while the traditional Middle East only includes Egypt, as it is a transcontinental country in both North Africa and Western Asia), as well as UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}} in West Africa, UsefulNotes/{{Comoros}}, UsefulNotes/{{Djibouti}} and UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} in East Africa, and UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}}, UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}} and the UsefulNotes/{{Maldives}} in South Asia, fitting more closely with the UsefulNotes/ArabWorld and/or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world Muslim world]] (note that the three terms are ''not'' synonymous). The Caucasus and Central Asia are sometimes also included in the Greater Middle East due to sociopolitical connections. Some particularly ignorant individuals equate "The Middle East" with "anywhere where Muslims are the majority", which is a major CriticalResearchFailure since hundreds of millions of Muslims live far away from the traditional Middle East, and in decidedly non-dry places too.[[note]]Sure, it is easy to conflate Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Middle East since they border Iran and have deserts, but do you really want to include lush, green UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}} as well? How about UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}? Furthermore, Southern Europe, which is very much a part of the West, has several Muslim-majority countries in UsefulNotes/{{Kosovo}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bosnia}} and UsefulNotes/{{Albania}}.[[/note]] The Near East, mainly in texts originating in Europe (both English and foreign texts), is described as the Levant[[note]]Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Hatay Province in Turkey[[/note]] plus Iraq, while the Middle East is the area around Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This can cause a mess for translators as well, so you always better make sure what the author's definition of the term is and preferably attach your own definition if writing about it yourself.

Ironically if the Middle Eastern setting is a fantasy/sci-fi genre or biblical/historical then dont be surprised to see White (Arnold Vosloo as Egyptian Imhotep in The Mummy), Black (Peter Mensah as the a Persian messenger in 300), Far East Asian (Elodie Yung in Gods of Egypt) or Oceanic (Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam).

The Greater Middle East political definition, coined in the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early 2000's]] by the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration, throws in the entirety of North UsefulNotes/{{Africa}} as far west as UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} (while the traditional Middle East only includes Egypt, as it is a transcontinental country in both North Africa and Western Asia), as well as UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}} in West Africa, UsefulNotes/{{Comoros}}, UsefulNotes/{{Djibouti}} and UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} in East Africa, and UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}}, UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}} and the UsefulNotes/{{Maldives}} in South Asia, fitting more closely with the UsefulNotes/ArabWorld and/or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world Muslim world]] (note that the three terms are ''not'' synonymous). The Caucasus and Central Asia are sometimes also included in the Greater Middle East due to sociopolitical connections. Some particularly ignorant individuals equate "The Middle East" with "anywhere where Muslims are the majority", which is a major CriticalResearchFailure since hundreds of millions of Muslims live far away from the traditional Middle East, and in decidedly non-dry places too.[[note]]Sure, it is easy to conflate Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Middle East since they border Iran and have deserts, but do you really want to include lush, green UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}} as well? How about UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}? Furthermore, Southern Europe, which is very much a part of the West, has several Muslim-majority countries in UsefulNotes/{{Kosovo}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bosnia}} and UsefulNotes/{{Albania}}.[[/note]] The Near East, mainly in texts originating in Europe (both English and foreign texts), is described as the Levant[[note]]Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Hatay Province in Turkey[[/note]] plus Iraq, while the Middle East is the area around Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This can cause a mess for translators as well, so you always better make sure what the author's definition of the term is and preferably attach your own definition if writing about it yourself. In the case of casting "Middle Eastern" characters in the western world. Casting could look for anyone from Morocco [[note]] inbNorth Africa [[/note]] to Bangladesh [[note]] in South Asia [[/note]] and everything in between. So not uncommonnto see Indians playing Arab (Naveeen Andrews as Iraqi Sayyid Jarrah in Lost), Arabs playing South Asians (Fady Elsayed as Ram Singh in Class), Iranians playing Bangladeshis (Golshifteh Farahani as Nik Khan in Extraction), etc.

The Greater Middle East political definition, coined in the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early 2000's]] by the UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush administration, throws in the entirety of North UsefulNotes/{{Africa}} as far west as UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} (while the traditional Middle East only includes Egypt, as it is a transcontinental country in both North Africa and Western Asia), as well as UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}} in West Africa, UsefulNotes/{{Comoros}}, UsefulNotes/{{Djibouti}} and UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} in East Africa, and UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}}, UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}} and the UsefulNotes/{{Maldives}} in South Asia, fitting more closely with the UsefulNotes/ArabWorld and/or the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world Muslim world]] (note that the three terms are ''not'' synonymous). The Caucasus and Central Asia are sometimes also included in the Greater Middle East due to sociopolitical connections. Some particularly ignorant individuals equate "The Middle East" with "anywhere where Muslims are the majority", which is a major CriticalResearchFailure since hundreds of millions of Muslims live far away from the traditional Middle East, and in decidedly non-dry places too.[[note]]Sure, it is easy to conflate Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Middle East since they border Iran and have deserts, but do you really want to include lush, green UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}} as well? How about UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}? Furthermore, Southern Europe, which is very much a part of the West, has several Muslim-majority countries in UsefulNotes/{{Kosovo}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bosnia}} and UsefulNotes/{{Albania}}.[[/note]] The Near East, mainly in texts originating in Europe (both English and foreign texts), is described as the Levant[[note]]Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Hatay Province in Turkey[[/note]] plus Iraq, while the Middle East is the area around Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This can cause a mess for translators as well, so you always better make sure what the author's definition of the term is and preferably attach your own definition if writing about it yourself.

* UsefulNotes/PersianMythology

!!!Iranian Plateau
* UsefulNotes/{{Iran}}
->'''Capital & Largest City''': UsefulNotes/{{Tehran}}