What do you mean by "Middle East"? -- The cradle of civilization -- Rise of the empires -- Ancient Judaism -- Early Christianity -- The Byzantine Empire -- Early Islam -- Islamic empires and European colonies -- A new empire is born -- World war and change -- Modern Mideast Mosaic -- Israel/Palestine : All Eyes on Jerusalem -- Egypt : heart of the Arab World -- Saudi Arabia : crossroads of Islam -- Iraq : British colony to Ba°thist beginnings -- Iraq : the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein -- Iran : the Shi°ite state -- Turkey : modern and democratic -- Tackling the tough issues -- Where's the peace?.