Map: Natural Earth (PD)
The Middle East as a cradle of civilizations and monotheistic faiths, spanning ancient states, scholarship and modern politics.
58 figures
Ibn al-Haytham
965–c. 1040
Medieval · Science
Physicist · Mathematician · Astronomer
Saladin
1138–1193
Medieval · Military
Monarch · Military leader
Zaha Hadid
1950–2016
Contemporary · Art
Architect
Shapur I
c. 215–272
Ancient · Military
Monarch · Military leader
Abbas the Great
1571–1629
Early modern · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Darius I
550 BC–486 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Suleiman the Magnificent
1494–1566
Early modern · Politics
Monarch · Military leader · legislator
Abu Bakr
c. 573–634
Medieval · Religion
Religious leader · Politician
Ahmad ibn Majid
c. 1432–c. 1500
Early modern · Exploration
Explorer · Writer · Naval officer
Al-Ghazali
c. 1058–1111
Medieval · Philosophy
Philosopher · theologian · Writer
Al-Mansur
713–775
Medieval · Politics
Monarch · Politician · Religious leader
Ali ibn Abi Talib
599–661
Medieval · Religion
Religious leader · Politician · Poet
Cambyses II
c. 559 BC–522 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Baibars
c. 1223–1277
Medieval · Military
Monarch · Military commander · Military leader
Bayezid I
1354–1403
Medieval · Military
Monarch · Military leader · Poet
Ibn Saud
1876–1953
Modern · Politics
Monarch · Politician · Military leader
Cyrus the Great
c. 600 BC–530 BC
Ancient · Military
Monarch · Military leader
Epictetus
50–138
Ancient · Philosophy
Philosopher · Writer
Ghazan I
1271–1304
Medieval · Politics
Monarch
Menachem Begin
1913–1992
Contemporary · Politics
Politician
Abdul Hamid II
1842–1918
Modern · Politics
Monarch
Abdülmecid I
1823–1861
Modern · Politics
Monarch
Eusebius of Caesarea
265–340
Ancient · Religion
theologian · historian · Writer · Religious leader
Ismail I
1487–1524
Early modern · Politics
Monarch · Poet · Politician · Military leader
Galen
129–300
Ancient · Medicine
Physician · Philosopher · Writer
Saddam Hussein
1937–2006
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · Military leader · Writer
Harun al-Rashid
766–809
Medieval · Politics
Monarch · Politician · Poet
Hammurabi
1810 BC–1750 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Politician
Yasser Arafat
1929–2004
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · revolutionary · Political activist
Khosrow I
501–579
Medieval · Politics
Monarch · Military leader · Politician
Mani
c. 216–c. 274
Ancient · Religion
Religious leader · Philosopher · Writer
Mehmed II
1432–1481
Early modern · Politics
Monarch · Military leader · Poet
David Ben-Gurion
1886–1973
Contemporary · Politics
Politician · Political activist
Malik-Shah I
1055–1092
Medieval · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Nader Shah
c. 1688–1747
Early modern · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Mu'awiya I
603–680
Medieval · Politics
Monarch · Politician · Military leader
Muhammad
c. 571–632
Medieval · Religion
Religious leader · Politician
Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
839–922
Medieval · Religion
Writer · historian · theologian
Paul the Apostle
c. 5–c. 66
Ancient · Religion
Religious leader · missionary · Writer · theologian
Nizam al-Mulk
1018–1092
Medieval · Politics
Politician · Writer
Enver Pasha
1881–1922
Modern · Politics
Politician · Military leader
Omar Khayyám
1048–1131
Medieval · Literature
Poet · Mathematician · Astronomer · Philosopher
Rashid-al-Din Hamadani
1247–1318
Medieval · Literature
historian · Physician · Politician · Writer
Selim I
1470–1520
Early modern · Military
Monarch · Military leader · Poet
Saint Peter
c. 1 BC–c. 65
Ancient · Religion
Religious leader
Sargon II
765 BC–705 BC
Ancient · Military
Monarch · Military leader
Sargon of Akkad
c. 2351 BC–c. 2301 BC
Ancient · Military
Monarch · Military leader
Tughril I
c. 990–1063
Medieval · Military
Military leader · Monarch
Jesus Christ
c. 6 BC–c. 30
Ancient · Religion
Religious leader · Spiritual teacher · Teacher
Ferdowsi
c. 940–c. 1020
Medieval · Literature
Poet · Writer
Xerxes I
519 BC–465 BC
Ancient · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Murad I
1326–1389
Medieval · Politics
Monarch · Military leader
Selim III
1761–1808
Early modern · Politics
Monarch · Composer
Mahmud II
1785–1839
Modern · Politics
Monarch · Politician
Mohammad Mosaddegh
1882–1967
Modern · Politics
Politician · Writer
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
1881–1938
Modern · Politics
Politician · Military commander · revolutionary · Writer
Ruhollah Khomeini
1902–1989
Contemporary · Politics
Religious leader · Politician · revolutionary · theologian · Philosopher
Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi
1791–1856
Modern · Politics
Monarch · Politician
