Photos of Mediterranean Countries
About the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea (Mare Nostrum, Mediterraneo, Mesogeios, لبحر الأبيض المتوسط, HaYam HaTikhon, Akdeniz) was a superhighway of transport in ancient times, allowing for trade and cultural exchange between emergent peoples of the region. Today, Mediterranean culture is influenced by the Egyptian, Phoenician/Canaanite, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Arab, and Ottoman empires. The history of the Mediterranean is important in understanding the origin and development of Western Civilization.
As a sea around which some of the most ancient human civilizations were arranged, the Mediterranean Sea has had a major influence on the history and ways of life of these cultures. The combination of similar shared climate, geology and access to a common sea has led to numerous historical and cultural connections between the ancient and modern societies around the Mediterranean. As a result, the people of the Mediterranean may share similar cuisine, architecture, musical influences, cultural beliefs and practices.
Mediterranean countries:
Europe: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus
Asia: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine/Israel
North Africa: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco
Other countries not in the Mediterranean, but have many cultural similarities to the Mediterranean include Andorra, Armenia, Portugal, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, San Marino, Serbia, and many more. These cultures may share similar climate or have had similar ancient conquerers as the people of the Mediterranean.
The major religions in the Mediterranean lands are Islam, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. There are also many other religions practiced by Mediterranean people.
Video of the Week
This week's Mediterranean video:
Artist: Fadl Shaker & Sotis Volanis
Song Title: "Ya Ghayeb" (Arabic-Greek Mix)
|