Arab World
Levant and beyond
The Arab World refers to the Arabic-speaking countries stretching from North Africa through the Middle East—roughly twenty nations where Arabic is an official language and Arab identity predominates.
The term emphasizes cultural and linguistic unity: Relations between the Arab World and the West have been complicated by oil politics.
It overlaps with but differs from the Muslim world, which is larger and more diverse.
Asia-Africa-Europe junction zone
- North AfricaContinent's Mediterranean coastal region
- Gulf StatesCountries around Arabian waters
- LevantEastern Mediterranean coastal region
- MaghrebNorthwest African region
Fertile Crescent · Nile · Tigris · Euphrates · Red Sea · Mediterranean · Suez Canal · Sahara
Quranic monotheistic religion
- QuranIslam's central scripture
- mosqueIslamic house of worship
- minaretMosque tower with balcony
- MeccaIslam's most sacred city
Medina · prophet · Ramadan · hajj · prayer · imam · muezzin · sharia
Ornamental handwriting art
- poetryMetrical literary composition
- literatureBody of written works
- oudAromatic heartwood or plucked instrument
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
mosaics · cuisine · henna · folklore · attire · keffiyeh · thobe · abaya
Islamic successor-led government
- OttomanMember of Turkish dynasty
- colonialismDomination through foreign settlement
- independenceFreedom from external control
- crusadesAggressive advocacy campaigns
dynasties · sultans · empires · conquests · Phoenicians · Saladin · trade routes · caravans
Regional language variations
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- scriptWritten words for performance
- alphabetLanguage's letter system
- diglossiaCoexisting language varieties, distinct roles
Quran · poetry · proverbs · idioms · linguistics · morphology · translation · bilingualism
GNU's compiler suite
- OPECPetroleum exporters' coalition
- OICText abbreviation for understanding
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
monarchy · republic · petroleum · diplomacy · Palestine · decolonization · revolution · independence
Middle East
Asia-Africa-Europe junction zone
- North AfricaContinent's Mediterranean coastal region
- Gulf StatesCountries around Arabian waters
- LevantEastern Mediterranean coastal region
Maghreb · Fertile Crescent · Nile · Tigris · Euphrates · Red Sea · Mediterranean · Suez Canal · Sahara · desert
Islam
Quranic monotheistic religion
Mecca · Medina · prophet · Ramadan · hajj · prayer · imam · muezzin · sharia · Sunni
calligraphy
Ornamental handwriting art
- poetryMetrical literary composition
- literatureBody of written works
- oudAromatic heartwood or plucked instrument
arabesque · mosaics · cuisine · henna · folklore · attire · keffiyeh · thobe · abaya · festivals
caliphate
Islamic successor-led government
- OttomanMember of Turkish dynasty
- colonialismDomination through foreign settlement
- independenceFreedom from external control
crusades · dynasties · sultans · empires · conquests · Phoenicians · Saladin · trade routes · caravans · Silk Road
dialects
Regional language variations
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- scriptWritten words for performance
- alphabetLanguage's letter system
diglossia · Quran · poetry · proverbs · idioms · linguistics · morphology · translation · bilingualism · vocabulary
GCC
GNU's compiler suite
- OPECPetroleum exporters' coalition
- OICText abbreviation for understanding
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
sovereignty · monarchy · republic · petroleum · diplomacy · Palestine · decolonization · revolution · independence · unity
Arab WorldChristendom
Collective Christian world
Europe · Latin America · East Asia · North America · Western civilization
Arab WorldChristendom
Collective Christian world
Israel · Jewish diaspora · Zion · Holy See