Countries of the Middle East

+4

Level 82

Nov 18, 2016

Wonderful quiz! Great job!

+6

Level 81

Nov 18, 2016

Seems like you're undecided on whether to include the Palestinian Territories or not. You list them separately, but it fills in automatically when you enter Israel. Maybe a note in the instructions could clarify?

+99

Level 71

Nov 18, 2016

What needs clarification? Whichever one you type in, both will show up. It's like the perfect neutral solution :-)

+7

Level 58

Nov 18, 2016

What's the little blip on Egypt's southern border? Reminds of the bit sticking out of Minnesota into Canada

+20

Level 66

Nov 18, 2016

Part of the Nile unofficially known as the Wadi Halfa Salient. Another interesting Egypt/Sudan border feature is the Hala'ib Triangle.

+4

Level 54

Mar 10, 2017

Presently I believe it's referred to as the Bir Tawil.

+2

Level 72

Aug 18, 2017

I can't speak to the Egypt/Sudan "blip," but the entire US/Canada border is irregular until that Minnesotan "Northwest Angle." The 49th parallel begins to form the boundary between Canada and the United States from Manitoba until the coast of mainland B.C.

+3

Level 71

Mar 9, 2020

That blip is not the Bir Tawil or Hala'ib triangle, those are more to the east. That blip is a lake along the Nile River that belongs to Sudan for some reason.

+1

Level 54

Jul 26, 2021

I thought it was Abyei

+1

Level 48

Oct 8, 2021

Abyei is part of both Sudan and South Sudan, effectively a condominium.

+3

Level 48

Nov 18, 2016

Actually quite an interesting area of land. I'll find a video about it later but basically neither Sudan nor Egypt technically claim the land. I'm not sure exactly of the reason but from what I remember is that Sudan believe that the border is everything below a longitude parrelel belongs to them. And Egypt follow some old colonial border that everything above this border is them. That bit of land is above the parallel and below the Egyptian border so nobody has claimed it.

+10

Level 71

Nov 18, 2016

Wow, that's the reverse of the problem that usually happens, where multiple countries WANT to claim a disputed piece of land. I'm thinking this place must be a real hole-in-the-wall, if Egypt and the Sudan are both like, "No no no, you can have it!" // "Oh, heavens no; YOU take it. We insist." // "No really – it belongs to you. We could not dream of keeping this little slice of paradise from you." // ad infinitum…

+4

Level 48

Nov 19, 2016

Er turns out I got a bit mixed up in terms of which part was actually in dispute. Actually a different area with all the territorial disputes. But yeah look up Bir Tamil and the Hala'ib Triangle if you want to know more

+2

Level 63

Nov 20, 2016

Here is this video: https://youtu.be/gtLxZiiuaXs (skip to 6:46)

+1

Level 90

Nov 21, 2016

The video that Gamer1162 references the history of the area, but doesn't speak to the 'blip' directly. The same amendment to the condominium treaty that makes Bir Tamil unclaimed and Hala'ib claimed by both Sudan and Egypt puts the Wadi Halfa under Sudanese control, as it was easier to manage the flooding on Lake Nubia from the Sudanese side.

+1

Level 75

Dec 20, 2016

This is very interesting. Since this is unclaimed territory, I wonder what would happen if someone goes there and plants his flag.

+3

Level 59

Mar 9, 2017

They did. A child (in U.S., I think) wanted to be a princess. So her dad went there, "claimed" it, and declared her Princess and ruler. Trump has proposed to her (after Melania divorces him) if she'll make him King - having a higher IQ, she declined.

+1

Level 47

Feb 7, 2019

Actually both territories are part of the same territorial dispute. There are to different treaties that define that border, and each country stands by one of them. Both claim the Hala'ib Triangle (which is rich in resourses) is theirs, which means they cannot claim Bir Tawil as well because none of the two treaties gives both territories to one of the two countries.

+1

Level 61

Oct 26, 2019

I believe that it was vice versa: Sudan believed in an old colonial border while Egypt believed it was a line of longitude. The blip is a dispute over the Hala’ib triangle. Bir Tawil hasn’t been claimed because neither country wants to claim the lesser piece of land.

+1

Level 28

Jan 12, 2022

there was an agreement that either Egypt of Sudan controlled Bir Tawil or the Hala'ib Triangle. Both wanted the triangle, and they both claim it since it is rich in natural recources. They if one of them were to claim Bir Tawil, according to the agreement, they would have to give up control of the triangle, which none of them want, so the land goes unclaimed.

+1

Level 65

Nov 23, 2016

Look up "Wadi Halfa"

+2

Level 86

Nov 7, 2018

On YouTube user ibx2cat has very detailed border videos. He talks about 200 words a minute, but is still very intelligible. I guess that way he can cram a 20-minute lesson into 5 minutes.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCJVnko6tQ56PYB5BNNChPGg

+3

Level 68

Nov 2, 2019

ibx2cat is nice

+1

Level 48

Jan 12, 2022

I've seen that video some months ago and found the story to be very interesting.

He is definitely one of the people where the function to watch clips slower or faster comes in handy. At 1.25x speed he sounds nearly normal, 1.5x seem a bit too slow.

He still talks without pause but its a little bit more endurable that way... :D

+1

Level 36

Jan 12, 2022

Honestly, ibx2cat speed at which he talks isn’t 200 words per minute. I think he talks at a fine pace compared to his video length.

+10

Level 41

Mar 9, 2017

Did it al with 100000 minutes left! i'm only 0.5

+4

Level 61

Mar 9, 2017

I didn't realize that Cyprus was considered part of the Middle East. You learn something new every day, I guess.

+36

Level 61

Mar 9, 2017

It isn't. It's just an American thing.

+3

Level 41

Mar 9, 2017

true

+4

Level 51

Mar 9, 2017

It's a part of the European Union even though it's a little way away from the nearest other member which is Greece. The reason Americans class it as the Middle East is because it's close to the other countries in the region.

+26

Level 83

Mar 9, 2017

This time I don't agree with the quiz maker. Cyprus is in Asia, but I would not include it in the Middle East.

+2

Level 37

Mar 9, 2017

If Turkey is in the Middle East, then so is Cyprus. What is NOT in the Middle East is Egypt. (unless you're going to consider the entire eastern part of Africa, the Middle East). This is a geography test; let's leave politics out of it.

+5

Level 83

Mar 9, 2017

The concept of "Middle East" is quite political anyway. But ok, let's say that the turkish part of Cyprus qualifies it for being in the Middle East.

+2

Level 50

Mar 9, 2017

Amen, Arp

+4

Level 58

Aug 18, 2017

@divantilya: Egypt is considered as Middle East by any international organization that refers to the Middle East, as well as in in Middle Eastern studies departments and courses at universities. Politically, historically, culturally, linguistically, it has so much in common with what's the other side of Sinai that it would be folly to not include it.

+5

Level 33

Aug 18, 2017

Personally I think the Causcasian countries and Cyprus are definitely European, but that's just me.

+1

Level 44

Mar 19, 2021

fitheach mexico is closely related to central america but it is a part of north america?? For thousands of years Egypt has been a major part of Africa...

+1

Level 33

Dec 1, 2021

@TheNotoriousA agreed

+1

Level 57

Jan 12, 2022

@hatekn3 Central America DOES include Mexico, however, Central America is a subdivision of North America, much like the Balkans are a subdivision of Europe. Egypt is a major part of Africa, but the fact that it is a transcontinental country can make the fact disputed.

+4

Level 57

Jan 12, 2022

Putting Cyprus in Asia is acceptable, but putting it in the Middle East? The Middle East is a political subdivision, much like Western Europe. Putting Russia in Western Europe is much the same as putting Cyprus in the Middle East, as neither are very culturally similar to the places they "classify" in. Furthermore, if Cyprus is considered Middle Eastern, then so should Azerbaijan at the very least, if not Afghanistan and the Maldives as well. If I am going to be honest, Georgia and Armenia are as much Middle Eastern, if not more, than Cyprus, which contains much, much less political ties (minus the disputed northern side) to the Middle East than to Europe or even Asia as a whole. In Addition, Cyprus is mainly Christian, while the rest of the Middle East has a Muslim Supermajority (with the exceptions of Turkey and Israel).

+1

Level 57

Jan 12, 2022

Even though Wikipedia does include Cyprus as a Middle Eastern country, that does not necessarily mean that Cyprus has to be Middle Eastern; Wikipedia has some questionable classifications when it comes to Eastern Europe. Also just because of the controversy with Cyprus on this website, it would be a good idea to not include it, or at least leave a caveat.

+2

Level 64

Jan 12, 2022

Neither Turkey or Cyprus remotely belong in the middle east

+1

Level 68

Jan 12, 2022

Yeah, I agree that Cyprus shouldn't be considered part of the Middle East. Continents are geographical, and so given Cyprus's proximity to the Asian mainland, it makes sense to call it Asian. However, "Middle East" is more of a cultural term, and culturally, Cyprus is not at all similar to countries like Iraq or Saudi Arabia. You could make an argument that it's part of the "Turkosphere" or whatever, but it's still more Greek than Turkish (and even then, I'm not sure I even consider Turkey to be fully Middle Eastern). I'd be happy to say Cyprus is "West Asian," but I personally don't consider it Middle Eastern.

+2

Level 74

Jan 12, 2022

Turkey is in an awkward position. The western end of Turkey is very European while the eastern end is very Middle Eastern. The Kurdish homeland is in Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq. I would argue that this region would make Turkey part of the Middle East. I would also argue that Thrace would make Turkey European.

+7

Level 69

Mar 9, 2017

Yeah, this is the first time I've ever seen Cyprus in the Middle East. Egypt most definitely is in the Middle East.

+3

Level 61

Oct 26, 2019

I guess Northern Cyprus is part of the Middle East, because it is claimed by Middle Eastern Turkey, but the actual country itself is practically a part of Europe. It is part of the EU, uses the euro, and speaks mostly Greek, an European language.

+1

Level 64

Jan 14, 2022

Cyprus is partially occupied by a country that may or may not be Middle Eastern, but that's like saying that if Turkey invaded Honduras that would make Honduras a Middle Eastern country. I'm pretty sure that, at this point, Quizmaster has understood that his position is untenable, and is just keeping it up out of stubborness, or to annoy people.

+1

Level 48

Jan 12, 2022

I thought the same. I'm not sure about Turkey also...

They are in the region, but at least for Cyprus the culture is very different (but that's also the case with Israel)

+8

Level 60

Mar 9, 2017

Meh. I'm just gonna leave them in the sea.

+2

Level 65

Mar 9, 2017

Ok, some version of this joke was already here, so I don't have to add it. ( My line would have been "Do we want to bring them back?")

+4

Level 63

Mar 9, 2017

I'll save Cyprus only.

+2

Level 56

Mar 9, 2017

Nice quiz! Maybe less time as I got 'em all with 1:52 remaining...

+9

Level 83

Mar 9, 2017

I saved all the Middle Easterners from drowning.

+4

Level 83

Mar 11, 2017

Whoever deletes comments here is trying to cover up evidence...

+2

Level 86

Mar 5, 2020

Of what, genocide by drowning?

+2

Level 83

Mar 21, 2020

of other comments I left that were deleted.

+1

Level 59

Jun 3, 2019

Well done Kal

+1

Level 18

Mar 9, 2017

nice quiz

+1

Level 63

Mar 9, 2017

Jetpunk seems to be very adamant that the Palestinian territories and separate from the state of Israel, and yet that land is filled in when you type in Israel.

+2

Level 75

Aug 24, 2017

And the reverse happens - wen you type in Palestine, it also gives you Israel! I doubt the Israelis would class themselves as a territory of Palestine. Since Israel has specifically not claimed Palestine as its own territory, then "Territories" makes no sense in the Palestine answer, because to be a territory, you have to be a territory of somewhere, and the only possible place it would have been classed as a territory (unwillingly, since it's declared itself to be a country anyway, with majority world recognition) would have been of Israel.

+1

Level 65

Jul 26, 2019

Basically Isralestine gets you two points.

+1

Level 65

Jul 26, 2019

And maybe a more accurate name would be the Palestinian Pieces of Land

+2

Level 45

Nov 3, 2019

It's still part of Israel - Palestine isn't a country

+3

Level 67

Mar 9, 2017

I didn't understand the premise at first and was wondering why in the world the quiz included a random photo of water...

+1

Level 33

Mar 12, 2017

I didn't know that Bahrain was in the Middle East.

+1

Level 75

Aug 18, 2017

I still don't know exactly where Bahrain is, either. All I know is it's an island, it's loaded with money, and it's somewhere near Saudi Arabia. Must be tiny.

+1

Level 49

Feb 10, 2021

Yeah, it's rich for the same reason as pretty much every Middle Eastern country: OIL!

+8

Level 60

Mar 31, 2017

"Oh no! All the countries of the Middle East have fallen into the sea." - And the world is a lot more peaceful place now ;)

+1

Level 75

Aug 18, 2017

Sad but true. If only North Korea would do the same.

+2

Level 49

Nov 2, 2019

If only all bigots like you could fall into the sea :)

+2

Level 41

Feb 12, 2021

I think you mean if America fell into the sea

+1

Level 44

Mar 19, 2021

Pretty trueeee

+1

Level 44

Aug 18, 2017

I kept trying to type "cypress" instead of "Cyprus." I guess i was thinking of the tree.

+1

Level 38

Aug 18, 2017

Middle East is a term created by the Americans. It is correctly termed Southwest Asia, if in Asia.

+1

Level 37

Aug 26, 2018

Bless you! -

+1

Level 83

Sep 10, 2018

for what? Recognizing a kindred spirit in truthiness?

+1

Level 83

Sep 10, 2018

False

+1

Level 74

Mar 14, 2020

More a British/Western Europe term and differentiates that part of Asia from the Far East (China etc). And as opposed to the eternal debate over continental borders, the "Middle East" is more cultural and political than geographic

+2

Level 50

Apr 17, 2020

Yes, and I'm never quite sure, if this is the Middle East, what the Near East is. I thought the ME is basically the Iran/Iraq/Arabia area, and the Turkey are is the NE. But what do I know...

+1

Level 75

Aug 18, 2017

Fun quiz! Thanks!

+2

Level 60

Aug 18, 2017

since when are Cyprus and Egypt considered part of the middle east? and since when are the "stans" not? i'm confused.

+4

Level 65

Aug 31, 2019

Since when were the "stans" ever included in the Middle East?

+1

Level 68

Aug 29, 2017

2:41 left XD

+3

Level 37

Nov 9, 2017

Since American politicians decided they should be. But, it is very telling that in attempting to shove Egypt-as-part-of-the-Middle-East down our throats because of language, historical, ethnic and what-not similarities, they fail to acknowledge those same similarities in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

+1

Level 83

Sep 10, 2018

Do you speak with such hyperbole in everyday conversation, too?

+1

Level 19

Sep 16, 2017

I made a quiz for the most populated countries in the middle east https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/253623/most-populated-middle-eastern-countries

+2

Level 52

May 29, 2018

Good quiz. It is to my understanding Egypt is in Africa not Asia and therfore should not be considered Middle East; but then again...............

+1

Level 28

May 31, 2020

Yeah, yeah. PART of Egypt is in Asia, from the cannal to the east it's all part of Asia, as well as Yemen, an island that is south from continental Yemen is part of Africa. Part of Turkey is in Europe, from the Istanbull to the west.

+1

Level 37

Aug 26, 2018

To Roger 77024: You are hilarious! - I don't dismiss possibility. Stranger things have happened and I wouldn't put anything past him!

+1

Level 31

Sep 10, 2018

Easy

+1

Level 37

Jul 26, 2019

100% first try :)

+1

Level 46

Jul 26, 2019

1) Israel is part of Europe..please refer to Eurovison :)

2) If Egypt is the Mid East then how far do we extend? The Arab culture goes right across the top of Africa to Morocco.

+2

Level 28

Aug 14, 2019

Australia is in Eurovision lol

+1

Level 21

Nov 5, 2019

At first I was like "What happened to this map!!! there's no ocean there!" And then I realized that I have to fill in the countries. Makes sense now.

+1

Level 55

Mar 26, 2020

I never think as Egypt as a country in the Middle-East.

+1

Level 28

May 31, 2020

You forgot the UK, but for the most part, well done. I really enjoy doing these kind of geography quizzes. Maybe you didn't forget the UK and you just wanted not to answer dozens of people on the comments saying that the UK is not there. I would also do that. XD

+1

Level 65

Jun 7, 2020

100%first try. 2:11 left

+2

Level 27

Jun 28, 2020

KSA for Saudi Arabia

+1

Level 73

Aug 27, 2020

I got Cyprus and I got Egypt, even though they are not really in the Middle East. Wanna know why? Because I have used jetpunk before. Here's what the internet says: "The Middle East is a loosely defined geographic region; the countries listed are generally considered part of the Middle East. These Middle East countries are part of the Asian continent, with the exception of Egypt, which is part of Africa, and the northwestern part of Turkey, which is part of the European landmass.

"The Middle East" is a term traditionally applied by western Europeans to the countries of SW Asia and NE Africa lying W of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Thus defined it includes Cyprus, the Asian part of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, the countries of the Arabian peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait), and Egypt and Libya. The area was viewed as midway between Europe and East Asia

+1

Level 73

Aug 27, 2020

(traditionally called the Far East ). The term is sometimes used in a cultural sense to mean the group of lands in that part of the world predominantly Islamic in culture, thus including the remaining states of N Africa as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan.

+1

Level 83

Sep 10, 2020

Why are you quoting "the Internet" when it seems to disagree with you?

+1

Level 73

Apr 6, 2021

I guess I learned something on that day. I can't actually remember.

+1

Level 48

Dec 27, 2020

Maybe it's a good thing the middle east fell into the sea...

+2

Level 26

Jan 12, 2021

in my almost 22 years of life this website is the first time I've ever seen cyprus being seen as middle eastern

+1

Level 58

Jan 13, 2021

5 stars for the description

+1

Level 55

Jan 26, 2021

is all of Egypt considered as a part of Middle East, or just Sinai?

+1

Level 47

Mar 29, 2021

Hi relessness. I really like this quiz! I hope you don't mind, but inspired by this, I have made these quizzes with the same 'fallen into the sea' idea.

+1

Level 22

Apr 24, 2021

Lot of the Middle East countries are Muslim countries

+1

Level 22

Apr 24, 2021

Maybe the Medditerain Sea or Red or Dead Sea

+1

Level 58

Jul 13, 2021

How to achieve world peace

+1

Level 41

Dec 6, 2021

easy

+1

Level 63

Jan 12, 2022

The map with no answers is just so beautiful :)

+2

Level 16

Jan 12, 2022

Turkey in it but no Arménie, Georgia nor Azerbaïdjan?

+1

Level 55

Jan 12, 2022

Yes. Why is that strange to you?

+2

Level 16

Jan 12, 2022

Turkey in it but no Arménie, Georgia nor Azerbaïdjan?

+1

Level 59

Jan 12, 2022

No Comment

+1

Level 55

Jan 12, 2022

Brilliant way of including Israel and Palestine

+1

Level 17

Jan 12, 2022

I forgot Kuwait! agh

+1

Level 39

Jan 12, 2022

First time I see a map without Palestine being in color grey

+1

Level 24

Jan 15, 2022

dammit i forgot bahrain!!!!!

First submitted	June 28, 2016
Times taken	82,943
Rating	4.97