Having established its status as the “ruler of the seas,” Great Britain effectively controlled the way to the east. These countries preferred the sea route bypassing Africa over the Middle Eastern land route, which was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. ![]() The Far East caught the attention of would-be colonial nations from all over Europe. This situation is evidence that the people of the Middle East, throughout their history, were largely manipulated by moves originating from outside of the region. Although this invasion caused upheaval in the Middle East, it was primarily an attempt to conquer India, the central gem in Britain’s imperial crown. Historians consider 1798, the year Napoleon invaded Egypt, as the beginning of the modern era in the history of the Middle East. While the fact that Europeans use this term is not surprising, the fact that people of the Middle East themselves use this term elucidates their complex relationship with the outside world.Įarly Interventions by European Powers Napoleon in Cairo by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 19th century, via Haaretz In this point of view, the Middle East is the region between the Far East and Europe. It is a Euro-centric perspective that regards Europe as the center of the world. Similar to the term “Near East,” the phrase “Middle East” is the outcome of external perception. ![]() In the ancient era, the Middle East was the center of religious wars the Crusades to Jerusalem and the development of Islam created significant upheavals in the region. Known as a cradle of civilization, the Middle East, in addition to its geopolitical importance, had provided significant contributions to the world: the written script, one of the very first civilizations, and later even the idea of monotheism. Middle East: The Ancient Era Epic of Gilgamesh, written in Mesopotamia, one of the first written scripts in history, via Britannica
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