I used to be pretty good at geography, and wasn't too bad at history either, but when Westy said he was going to the middle east I found myself right out of my depths. And whenever things come up on why Israel and Palestine/Lebanon/etc are fighting, the classic aussie-brain-surgeon/talk-back-radio-listener decides to throw in the old "it's happened for hundreds of years, they're just stupid and should get over it" line. But I can honestly say i knew very little of the amount of change that has occured there. Being in Australia, it can be a bit strange to think about having a history rather than the thought of 'it was not anyone's land until the english arrived'.

So, for those who were ignorant like me, here's an interesting history of the middle east and who has ruled over it in the last 5,000 years

Or check official page

Labels: Brett Gibson, Politics, Ripped Off