The area around the eastern Mediterranean; from Turkey to northern Africa and eastward to Iran; the site of such ancient civilizations as Phoenicia and Babylon and Egypt and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity and Islam; had continuous economic and political turmoil in the 20th century.

synonyms: Middle East, Near East.

Dutch: Nabije Oosten, Midden-Oosten
Polish: Bliski Wschód, Lewant