The Middle East

How should one define the geographic entity known as the “Middle East”? Scholars have diverging views based on political, demographic, and historical factors. The natural topographic and geological features of the region provide a helpful starting point, in particular, the major bodies of water. The “Middle East” can be drawn by tracing the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, down to the Nile River, and then continuing south to include the Red Sea, then east to the Persian Gulf, then north to the southern part of the Caspian Sea. Lastly, this demarcation continues west towards Turkey and the Mediterranean.