External Web sites
Britannica Web sites
Articles from Britannica encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- Middle East - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
The Middle East is the region around the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It includes the countries that are located where the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa meet. Geographers and historians do not always agree on which countries should be included in the Middle East. People commonly include the following countries: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.
- Middle East - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
Located at the junction of three continents-Europe, Asia, and Africa-the region known as the Middle East has historically been a crossroads for conquerors, peoples, trade, and ideas as well as a transition zone for political and cultural interaction. Today the Middle East’s strategic location as a tricontinental hub, its vast petroleum reserves, its importance to Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike, and its many political disputes give it a global significance out of proportion to its size.