From the author of the bestselling The State of the World Atlas, here is an essential tool for understanding the Middle East and its pivotal role in global politics. As Western powers attempt to redraw the map of the region, Dan Smith uses his forensic skills to unravel the history of this arena of confrontation and instability, from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. With customarily acute analysis, he highlights key issues and maps their global implication to explain why the Middle East has become, and will remain, the focal point for foreign policy. The atlas covers a wide range of topics, including: Imperial legacies * ethnic and religious differences * US presence and policies * Arab-Israeli wars * Israel and Palestine * Iran and Iraq * Military spending * the Kurds * Libya and the USA * oil and water.