The Middle East and North Africa are regions often grouped together because they have many things in common. Islam is the dominant religion in the area, and almost everyone speaks Arabic. Most of the Middle East and North Africa are deserts where very little rain falls. There are, however, many exceptions:
mena-map
The nations of the Middle East and North Africa.
Where is the Middle East?
The lands around the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea are often called the Middle East or the Near East. The term came from the first geographers in ancient Greece, for whom the region was both near and east. China and Japan are part of the Far East.
The West originally referred to Western Europe but later included the American continents once Europeans became aware of them. Australia and New Zealand are considered Western nations because most people in those nations have more in common with people in Western Europe and America than with China or Japan.
Middle East and North Africa Resources
Download this lesson as Microsoft Word file or as an Adobe Acrobat file.
Listen as Mr. Dowling reads this lesson.
Mr. Donn has an excellent website that includes a section on the Middle East and North Africa.
Camels
Camels are adapted to arid conditions, fierce winds, and the intense heat of the desert. They are able to survive long periods without food or water.