Geography
🕌 Middle East Regional Quiz
Ancient civilizations meet modern skylines — how well do you know the Middle East?
Ancient civilizations meet modern skylines — how well do you know the Middle East?
The Middle East holds approximately 48% of the world's proven oil reserves. This region is the cradle of civilization, birthplace of three major world religions, and home to some of the most rapidly developing economies on Earth. From ancient Mesopotamia to the modern skyline of Dubai, test your knowledge of this pivotal region.
The Middle East typically includes 17-18 countries: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Some definitions also include parts of North Africa.
The discovery of oil in the early 20th century transformed the Persian Gulf states from small trading and pearl-diving communities into some of the wealthiest nations on Earth. Oil revenue funded massive infrastructure projects, modern cities, and sovereign wealth funds worth trillions of dollars.
Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism (the Western Wall and Temple Mount), Christianity (the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection), and Islam (the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven).