Arab people, also known as Arabs (Arabic: عرب, ʿarab), are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing an important part of Arab identity.
The word "Arab" has had several different, but overlapping, meanings over the centuries (and sometimes even today). In addition to including all Arabized people of the world (with language tending to be the acid test), it has also at times been used exclusively for bedouin (Arab nomads [although sometimes in the past a related word, "`a-RAB," with the Arabic letter "alif" in the second syllable, was used when this specific meaning was intended] and their now almost entirely sedentary descendants). It is sometimes used that way colloquially even today in some places. Townspeople in the past sometimes were called "sons of the Arabs." As in the case of other ethnicities/nations, people identify themselves (or are identified by others) as "Arabs" to varying degrees. This may or may not be one's primary identity (it tends to compete with country, religion, sect, etc.), and whether or not it is emphasized may vary from time to time and depend on whom one is talking too. For further analysis of the word (thorough and scholarly, though not without its biases), see Bernard Lewis, The Arabs in History, new edition (Oxford University Press, 1993), pp. 3-14 (introduction).
The Middle East or Mideast is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. The term is considered to be Eurocentric and used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East. The corresponding adjective is Middle-Eastern and the derived noun is Middle-Easterner.
The history of the Middle East dates back to ancient times, and throughout its history, the Middle East has been a major centre of world affairs. When discussing ancient history, however, the term Near East is more commonly used. The Middle East is also the historical origin of major religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Middle East generally has an arid and hot climate, with several major rivers providing for irrigation to support agriculture in limited areas. Many countries located around the Persian Gulf have large quantities of crude oil. In modern times the Middle East remains a strategically, economically, politically, culturally and religiously sensitive region. The Middle East expected economic growth rate is at about 4.1% for 2010 and 5.1% in 2011.