The Middle East
An Overview of the Middle East
Widely considered one of the potent cradles of civilization, the Middle East’s semi-defined territories once gave birth to influential empires such as the Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ancient Egyptians and Akkadians. The region has served as one of the most prominent global crossroads of the Old and Modern world, with caravans, Silk Road routes, major shipping lanes and military chokepoints tracing the territory. The vital landmass linking Europe, Africa and Asia together includes world-defining geographical points such as the Suez Canal, the Turkish Straits and the Straits of Hormuz,
The modern Middle East states are defined by dramatic landscapes, rolling deserts, rich coastal reserves, massive oil deposits, incredibly developed cities and fascinating food. Furthermore, the region has served as one of the most important religious zones in the world, with Judaism, Christianity and Islam all tying their faith and history to the region.
The Middle East is also home to some of the grandest sights and constructs on Earth. The Pyramids of Giza, the desert-carved city of Petra, the Holy City of Jerusalem, the Islamic pilgrimage site of Mecca, the famed Dead Sea and the rising supercity of Dubai all call this region home.
This is the land of crossroads, camel caravans and hardy desert nations. It is the part of the world where shifting dunes sing, stories of jinn rise like smoke and the greatest legacy of ancient human engineering endures. It is a land most worthy of visiting.
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View the Countries and Cities I’ve Visited Below
Bahrain
Capital of Bahrain
Egypt
Capital of Egypt
Kuwait
Capital of Kuwait
Qatar
Capital of Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Capital of Saudi Arabia
Riyadh Province
Asir Region
Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
Hail Province
Hijazi Tihama Region
Najran Province
United Arab Emirates
Capital Abu Dhabi Emirate
Emirate of Dubai
Old Sean in the Middle East
The Middle East has always danced on the thresholds of my imagination. It was a hazy concept in my youth, where immense structures rose from the deserts surface in some areas, and sunk down into obscure nonbeing in others.
After devouring books on Ancient Egyptians, tracing depictions of the Hanging Gardens, blinking in awe at descriptions of the Crusades, the Ottomans, the Arab states and Jerusalem, the region became a deep fascination of mine.
However, reaching this corner of the world was a late achievement in my travels. My time in Asia came first, along with Europe and South America. Despite studying Arabic in university, I wouldn’t have an opportunity to utalize the few recalled words for years. When I finally arrived, all childhood expectations were validated and banished at once.
I believe the aspect of the Middle East which draws me so deeply is its uncommon influence and endurance. For multiple millennia, this was the boarder of Europe, the crossroads through the entirety of the Old World and the home to some of the best-preserved ancient heritages on Earth.
That winking curiosity stays alive within, even now, unextinguished by blazing deserts, lonely sands and strange, quiet realms of rugged terrain.
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean