History of the ancient Levant
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+ | The '''Levant''' is a geographical term that refers to a large area in [[Southwest Asia]], south of the [[Taurus Mountains]], bounded by the [[Mediterranean Sea]] in the west, the [[Arabian Desert]] in the south, and the [[Zagros Mountains]] in the east. The term is also sometimes used to refer to modern events or states in the region immediately bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea: [[Israel]], [[Palestinian territories]], [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]], and [[Syria]]. | ||
- | '''Near East''' today is an ambiguous term that covers different countries for archeologists and historians, on one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other. The term originally applied to the [[Balkan states]] in Southeast Europe, but now it generally describes the countries of [[Southwest Asia]] between the [[Mediterranean]] and [[Iran]], especially in historical contexts. The term "near east" is still used in intellectual circles though the terms "mideast" or "middle east" are popular in the prolific U.S. media. | + | The Levant does not include [[Anatolia]] (although at times [[Cilicia]] may be included), the [[Caucasus Mountains]], or any part of the [[Arabian Peninsula]] proper. The [[Sinai peninsula|Sinai]] Peninsula is sometimes included, though more considered an intermediate, peripheral or marginal area forming a land bridge between the Levant and northern [[Egypt]]. |
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+ | ''For what the area is called by natives and others, see [[Names of the Levant]]. See also [[History of the Middle East]].'' | ||
- | The term as used by Western [[archaeologist]]s, [[geographer]]s, and [[historian]]s refers to the region encompassing [[Anatolia]] (the Asian portion of modern [[Turkey]]), the [[Levant]] ([[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], [[Israel]] and the [[Palestinian territories]]), [[Mesopotamia]] ([[Iraq]]) and [[Transcaucasia]] ([[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]]). In modern political and journalistic contexts, this region is usually subsumed into the wider [[Middle East]] while the terms Near East or [[Southwest Asia]] are preferred in archaeological, geographic, historical and population genetic contexts. | ||
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The Levant is a geographical term that refers to a large area in Southwest Asia, south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the west, the Arabian Desert in the south, and the Zagros Mountains in the east. The term is also sometimes used to refer to modern events or states in the region immediately bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea: Israel, Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
The Levant does not include Anatolia (although at times Cilicia may be included), the Caucasus Mountains, or any part of the Arabian Peninsula proper. The Sinai Peninsula is sometimes included, though more considered an intermediate, peripheral or marginal area forming a land bridge between the Levant and northern Egypt.
For what the area is called by natives and others, see Names of the Levant. See also History of the Middle East.