| There is no exact definition of the Middle East | | | | straddles the two continents). And similar to the |
| that is agreed upon by all people. Some core | | | | cultural overlap with the Middle East in southern |
| countries are always included as part of the | | | | and southeastern Turkey, there is much cultural |
| region, but there is disagreement about how far | | | | overlap with Europe in western Turkey, as well as |
| the region extends, and this is complicated by | | | | crossover with former Soviet republics in |
| cultural, linguistic, and political considerations. | | | | northeastern Turkey. These days Turkey tends |
| The nations always included as being part of the | | | | to be left out of classifications more often than it |
| region are Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel/Palestine, | | | | used to be. |
| Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, | | | | Some people include the Arab countries of North |
| Bahrain, and Iran. So it can be said that the Middle | | | | Africa in their definitions of the region, because of |
| East is approximately equivalent to Western Asia. | | | | the linguistic and cultural connections between the |
| But some countries outside of Western Asia, or | | | | Arab countries of Africa and Asia. Libya, Tunisia, |
| that straddle Western Asia and another continent | | | | Algeria, and Morrocco are the most commonly |
| region, are often included in regional classifications. | | | | cited. More rarely included are Sudan, Somalia, |
| Egypt is one of the most commonly included. | | | | Western Sahara, and Mauritania. |
| Most of Egypt's landmass is located in North | | | | Sometimes included as part of the region but |
| Africa, but the Sinai Peninsula is in Western Asia, | | | | normally considered part of Central Asia, is |
| and geographically inseparable from Israel's Negev | | | | Afganistan. Pakistan is also sometimes included , |
| desert. Not only that, but Egypt is the cultural | | | | probably because many people confuse the |
| capital of the Arab world and has therefore had a | | | | Islamic World with the Arab World. Occasionally |
| large influence on the Arab cultures of Western | | | | included are the former Soviet republics of Central |
| Asia. | | | | Asia, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, |
| Also sometimes included is Turkey, which borders | | | | Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and |
| Syria, Iraq, and Iran. It has a Kurdish region that | | | | Kyrgyzstan. There are linguistic connections |
| extends beyond the country's Eastern borders. | | | | between these Central Asian countries and the |
| And there is a minority of people speaking Turkic | | | | countries of Western Asia, with Turkic languages |
| languages living in Iran. There is also an | | | | (related to Turkish language spoken in Turkey) |
| Arabic-speaking minority in southern Turkey. So | | | | and Iranian languages (related to the Persian |
| Turkey has a lot of cultural connections to the | | | | language spoken in Iran). Most, however, believe |
| Middle East. And 97% of the land mass of Turkey | | | | that this definition of the Middle East is a great |
| lies within Western Asia. However, most Turks | | | | stretch, and that these countries are outside of |
| themselves are likely to deny their connections to | | | | its boundaries. |
| Asia. The people of Turkey tend to think of | | | | The basic classification of the Middle East comes |
| themselves as part of Europe, even though only | | | | down to Western Asia, with other peripheral |
| 3% of the country lies in Europe. This is possibly | | | | countries sometimes included because of religious, |
| because the main part of Istanbul, Turkey's | | | | cultural, or political ties with Western Asian |
| largest city, is located in Europe (though the city | | | | countries. |