Introduced into common speech by Geo-political strategist Alfred Mahan around 1900, this remains a remarkably apt and useful designation. The Middle-East, perched between Africa, Europe, South Asia and Central Asia, has been the cross-roads of trade, migration, and invading armies for the past 5000 years. While the designation '-East' is somewhat arbitrary, it has been established since the days of Ancient Greece, and is both less inaccurate and better-sounding than 'Near-East'.
