Middle East Religious and Linguistic Heritage

The Middle East is a term that is often interchanged with the Near East to describe the area of Western Asia that is generally centered on the Arabian Peninsula. This relatively small region is home to the world’s most noteworthy religions and several common languages.

The history of the Middle East, or Near East, can be traced far back into ancient times due to the fact that this area has always been a center of events that have an international impact. When it comes to religion, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity were all originated in this area by ancient peoples. Although they are the three most commonly mentioned religions from the Middle East, others exist including Zoroastrianism, Mandaeism, the Druze faith, and the Baha’i faith. There are many lands and architectural structures throughout this region that have been a source of contention between different religious groups for centuries due to their importance in different faiths and belief systems which constitute a considerable part of world heritage.

Another way in which the Middle East has contributed to world heritage is through language. Arabic is the most widely spoken languages in the area although there are many dialects of this tongue. Other languages that can be heard spoken by large ethnic groups include Persian, Berber, Turkish, Kurdish, and Urdu. Some European languages, such as English and French, are being taught in schools in the area and are even used as the principle spoken language in some parts of this culturally diverse region. The Middle East has a wealth of cultural, linguistic, and religious history to share with the world.