Middle East is often referred to as the regions lying in South West Asia from Egypt to Iran. Egypt with its Sinai Peninsula in Asia is often considered to be a part of the Middle East. However, most of the country geographically speaking lies in North Africa. Some of the countries that can be classified as Middle East countries include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories of West Bank and Gaza strip, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Middle East was one of the first centers of agriculture. It lies at the juncture of the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is also the birthplace of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism. Middle East thus has thus been a major activity center of world affairs. The discovery of crude oil in the 20th century gave the region its due importance. The region has also witnessed numerous instances of bloodshed as well as bouts of peace. Middle East was formed as a result of the partition of the Ottoman Empire.
Most countries in the Middle East have a predominantly Muslim population and Islam is the main religion followed in the region. The main languages spoken here include Arabic and Urdu. English is spoken but rare in these parts.
Countries in the Middle East Asia are known for its petroleum products. The countries of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq are known to export large quantities of petroleum products in the world. Gold is also produced here in large quantities and is comparatively lesser priced than elsewhere.
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