Southwest Asia
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Southwest Asia (PDF)
Southwest Asia (often called the Middle East) is the southwestern part of Asia. The term Western Asia is commonly used in writings about the archaeology and late prehistory of the region.
Geographers that were annoyed with the ambiguity of the term "Middle East" tried to popularize the word "Southwest Asia", but with limited success. The term "West Asia" has however become the preferred term of use for the Middle East in countries such as India, possibly because of the perceived Eurocentrism of the term "Middle East". Still others deem that the Middle East should include North African countries or at least the part of Egypt in North Africa. Afghanistan is generally included within the region and parts of Central Asia and western Pakistan are both closely affiliated with the region as well, while Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are sometimes considered European or at least Eurasian due to their respective histories and location in the vague borderland where the arbitrary line between Europe and Asia is drawn.
The countries and territories in Southwest Asia include:
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Cyprus
- Egypt (Sinai Peninsula)
- Gaza Strip
- Georgia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- Turkey (Anatolia section)
- United Arab Emirates
- West Bank
- Yemen
See also population and area figures for countries of Asia for more information.
Anatolia, Arabia, Levant, and Mesopotamia are subregions of Southwest Asia.
Other subregions of Asia
- East Asia
- Southeast Asia
- South Asia (Indian Subcontinent)
- Central Asia
- North Asia (Siberia)
- Northern Eurasia (Extends into Europe)
- Central Eurasia (Extends into Europe)
See also
| Regions of the World | |
| Africa: | Central Africa | East Africa | Great Lakes | Guinea | Horn of Africa | North Africa | Maghreb / Northwest Africa | Sahel | Southern Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | Sudan | West Africa |
| Americas: | Andean states | Caribbean | Central America | Great Lakes | Great Plains | Guianas | Latin America | North America | Patagonia | South America | Southern Cone |
| Asia: | Central Asia | East Asia | East Indies | Far East | Indian subcontinent | North Asia | Southeast Asia | Southwest Asia (Middle East / Near East, Levant, Anatolia, Arabia) |
| Europe: | Balkans | Baltic region | Benelux | British Isles | Central Europe | Eastern Europe | Northern Europe | Scandinavia | Southern Europe | Western Europe |
| Eurasia: | Caucasus | Mediterranean | Post-Soviet states |
| Oceania: | Australasia | Melanesia | Micronesia | Polynesia | Aleutian Islands | Pacific Rim |
| Polar: | Arctic | Antarctic |
