This essay is a section of the chapter called "Change in Practical Ideologies: Self, Gender and Ethnicity" from the book The Middle East: An Anthropological Approach, by Dartmouth College Professor of Anthropology Dale Eickelman.

Think of the Middle East and the desert is likely one of the first images to spring to mind. While there is much more geographic diversity in the region than most people realize, the desert s of the Middle East truly are some of the largest and most awe-inspiring in the world. The Sahara is the largest desert in the world, the Rub al-Khali in Saudi Arabia has awesome dunes of sand, and Iran’s arid central plateau contains the Dasht-e Lut and Dasht-e Kavir.

Performance of the pilgrimage to Mecca during the prescribed month is an obligation for all Muslims around the world at least once in their lifetime, if they can afford to go. This article explores the rites of the hajj in detail, and links with a Google Earth hajj tour.

Karin Van Nieuwkerk describes four clusters of related female entertainers from Egypt. In the first section, she introduces Umm Muhammad, the oldest female performer of Muhammad 'Ali Street, and Ibtisam, who belongs to the present generation. These life histories illustrate the developments in the profession during the last fifty years.

822 BCE: The Phoenicians establish the historic city of Carthage (in present-day Tunisia) and set up trading posts along the North African coast. c. 208 BCE: Massinisa becomes king of Eastern Numidian Massyli (east of current Algeria), succeeding his father Gala.