West Asia
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| + | '''Western Asia''', '''West Asia''', '''Southwest Asia''' or '''Southwestern Asia''' are terms that describe the westernmost [[subregion|portion]] of [[Asia]]. The terms are partly [[wikt:coterminous|coterminous]] with the ''[[Middle East]]'' - which describes geographical position in relation to [[Western Europe]] rather than location within Asia. | ||
| - | '''Anatolia''' is a geographic region of [[Western Asia]], comprising most of the modern [[Republic of Turkey]]. The region is bounded by the [[Black Sea]] to the north, the [[Caucasus]] to the northeast, the [[Iranian plateau]] to the southeast, the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the south and the [[Aegean Sea]] to the west. Anatolia has been home to many civilizations throughout history, including the [[Arameans|Aramean]], [[Hittites|Hittite]], [[Troy|Trojan]], [[Phrygia]]n, [[Lydia]]n, [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid]], [[Ancient Greece|Greek]], [[Kingdom of Armenia|Armenian]], [[Roman Empire|Roman]], [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]], [[Sultanate of Rûm|Anatolian Seljuk]] and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] states. | + | ===[[West Asia]]=== |
| - | + | West Asia largely corresponds with the term the [[Middle East]]. However, the usage of the term [[Middle East]] is slowly fading out due to its obvious [[Eurocentrism]] as the region is east of [[Europe]] ''but'' it is south of [[Russia]] and west of [[India]]. West Asia consists of [[Turkey]], [[Syria]], [[Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], [[Palestinian territories]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Kuwait]], [[Bahrain]], [[Qatar]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Oman]] and [[Yemen]]. The region is the historical birthplace of [[Abrahamic religions]]: [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]]. Today, the region is almost 93% Muslim and is dominated by [[Islamic]] politics. Culturally, the region is [[Turkish people|Turkish]], [[Arab]] and [[Persian people|Persian]]. [[Iraq]] is a unique example of both [[Persian people|Persian]] and [[Arab]] culture. Many of the [[Arab countries]] are [[desert]] and thus many nomadic groups exist today. On the other hand, modern metropolises also exist on the shifting sands: [[Abu Dhabi]], [[Amman]], [[Riyadh]], [[Doha]] and [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]]. The climate is mostly of a desert climate however some of the coastal regions have a more [[temperate climate]]. On the other hand, the [[Anatolia|Anatolian plateau]] ([[Turkey]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Armenia]]) is very [[mountainous]] and thus has a more [[temperate climate]] while the coasts have a distinct [[mediterranean climate]]. The [[Persian Plateau]] ([[Iran]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Iraq]] and [[Turkmenistan]]) has a diverse terrain, it is mainly [[mountainous]] with portions of [[desert]], [[steppe]] and [[tropical forest]] on the coast of the [[Caspian Sea]]. [[Middle Eastern cuisine|West Asian cuisine]] is a fusion of [[Turkish cuisine|Turkish]], [[Arabian cuisine|Arabian]], [[North African cuisine|North African]] and [[Persian cuisine]]. It is immensely rich and diverse. The literature is also immensely rich with [[Arabic literature|Arabic]] and [[Persian literature]] dominating. One of the most famous literary works of West Asia is [[1001 Arabian Nights]]. | |
| - | Geographically, three sides of the peninsula are bordered by [[Black Sea]] to the north, [[Aegean Sea]] to the west, and [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the south. The north east sides of Anatolia is more mountainous. [[Sea of Marmara]] form a connection between [[Black Sea|Black]] and [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] seas through the [[Bosporus]] and [[Dardanelles]] straits. The north side of Marmara is considered to be in [[Europe]] and the [[Bosporus]] connects [[Europe]] to [[Asia]]. | + | |
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| - | Currently, Anatolia is situated in the [[Turkey|Turkish Republic]]. The vast majority of the people residing in Anatolia are [[Turks]]. [[Kurds]], who constitute a major community in southeastern Anatolia, are the largest ethnic minority. [[Albanians]], [[Arabs]], [[Armenians]], [[Bosnians]], [[Georgians]], [[Greeks]], [[Jews]], and a number of other ethnic groups also live in Anatolia. | + | |
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Revision as of 07:23, 19 September 2009
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Western Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East - which describes geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than location within Asia.
West Asia
West Asia largely corresponds with the term the Middle East. However, the usage of the term Middle East is slowly fading out due to its obvious Eurocentrism as the region is east of Europe but it is south of Russia and west of India. West Asia consists of Turkey, Syria, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen. The region is the historical birthplace of Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Today, the region is almost 93% Muslim and is dominated by Islamic politics. Culturally, the region is Turkish, Arab and Persian. Iraq is a unique example of both Persian and Arab culture. Many of the Arab countries are desert and thus many nomadic groups exist today. On the other hand, modern metropolises also exist on the shifting sands: Abu Dhabi, Amman, Riyadh, Doha and Muscat. The climate is mostly of a desert climate however some of the coastal regions have a more temperate climate. On the other hand, the Anatolian plateau (Turkey, Georgia, Armenia) is very mountainous and thus has a more temperate climate while the coasts have a distinct mediterranean climate. The Persian Plateau (Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Turkmenistan) has a diverse terrain, it is mainly mountainous with portions of desert, steppe and tropical forest on the coast of the Caspian Sea. West Asian cuisine is a fusion of Turkish, Arabian, North African and Persian cuisine. It is immensely rich and diverse. The literature is also immensely rich with Arabic and Persian literature dominating. One of the most famous literary works of West Asia is 1001 Arabian Nights.
