Which continent is the Middle East part of? Why?

Answer 1

The Middle East is part of Asia, isn't it? I'm sure that the Middle East isn't in Europe. Mesopotamia, an ancient civilization near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, was located in Asia. Mesopotamia is now in modern-day Iraq or Iran, I think. Iraq and Iran are in the Middle East, so the Middle East should be located in Asia.

Answer 2

It's very ambiguous because it could belong to any of three continents (Europe, Asia, or Africa) due to it's geographic, economic or political distinctions. Russia, for example, is predominantly geographically in Asia, but politically and economically, a part of Europe. I think it all depends on someone's perspective, I personally have always classified it as European.

As for the Middle East, I think Turkey is the eastern most part of Europe and Egypt is the north-eartern most part of Africa. Therefore, I generally classify the majority of the Middle East as Asian and designate it Asia Minor, or Anatolia.

Answer 3

The Middle East is a historical and political region of Africa-Eurasia with no clear definition; it traditionally includes countries or regions in Southwest Asia and parts of North Africa. The corresponding adjective to Middle East is Middle-Eastern and the derived noun is Middle-Easterner.

Many have criticized the term for a number of reasons, often due to its loose definition. The United Nations avoids the phrase entirely and officially refers to the region as "Southwest Asia," while other critics advise using the more general "West Asia."

Answer 4

The Middle East is a historical and political region of Africa-Eurasia with no clear definition; it traditionally includes countries or regions in Southwest Asia and parts of North Africa. The corresponding adjective to Middle East is Middle-Eastern and the derived noun is Middle-Easterner.

Many have criticized the term for a number of reasons, often due to its loose definition. The United Nations avoids the phrase entirely and officially refers to the region as "Southwest Asia," while other critics advise using the more general "West Asia."


The Middle East defines a geographical area, but does not have precise defined borders. The most common and highly arbitrary definition includes: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Palestinian Territories. Many Western definitions of the "Middle East" — in both established reference books and common usage — define the region as "nations in Southwest Asia, from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Egypt." The inclusion of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey is sometimes contentious as they are not Arab states.

Egypt, with its Sinai Peninsula in Asia, is often considered part of the Middle East, although most of the country lies geographically in North Africa. North African nations without Asian links, such as Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, are increasingly being called North African — as opposed to Middle Eastern (Pakistan to Egypt-Asia) — by international media outlets. However, North African countries can also be considered part of the Middle East. Somalia, an Islamic country in the East Africa, is, like Pakistan also considered part of the "Greater Middle East".

Other countries that are sometimes included in this definition are those of the Caucasus region (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia), Cyprus, and North Africa (the Maghreb). Like the situation of Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, the inclusion of these countries is controversial, and often more so because they are located far outside the arbitrary geographical boundaries of the Middle East.

One widely used definition of the "Middle East" is that of the airline industry, maintained by the IATA standards organization. This definition — as of early 2007 — includes Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.[7] This definition is used in world-wide airfare and tax calculations for passengers and cargo.

Answer 5

Its part of three continents. Europe, Africa and Asia. But cultural they are most the same. All islamic. But Turkey is more Europe than Asia (political and cultural). Geographical its more Asia (97%).

Answer 6

Part Asia, part Africa and Turkey is the only middle eastern country half Asia and half Europe.

Answer 7

It's part of Asia, with the exception of Egypt, which is in Africa.

Answer 8

Asia.

Answer 9

the middle east is not one country dummy

Answer 10

partly north africa and partly asia