The Middle East

The juncture of Africa and Eurasia known as the Middle East dates back to the earliest recorded time, and is the birthplace of several major world religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity. With the earth's largest oil reserves, the Mideast has only gained in global importance, and this combination of religious history and oil dominance makes the region strategically and culturally sensitive.. Primarily a hot, arid desert, ultramodern cities have developed across the area with the growth of global markets.