Chapter 2: Friends, Enemies, and Neighbors.

MIDDLE East history; IMPERIALISM; MIDDLE Eastern civilization; RELIGION; DEMOCRACY; POLITICAL stability

To understand the modern Middle East, a little historical background is helpful. The Middle East is considered a cradle of civilization. Over the centuries the Middle East gave rise to a number of important kingdoms and empires. Beginning in the seventh century, the Middle East came under the influence of the third major monotheistic religion to arise in the region, Islam. In the political realm, the Middle East is remarkable for its dearth of fully democratic, representative governments. The Middle East has given birth to the world's three most important monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Today, more than 90 percent of Middle Easterners and North Africans are followers of Islam.