Medieval Europeans were fascinated by the lands that lay beyond their own continent. This article looks at the real and imaginary travels of explorers and tradesmen through works including The Book of John Mandeville, The Travels of...

Features a description and history of the Syrian Arab Republic with links to information on its geography, symbols, flags, and more.

Features an overview of the history of Israel from 750 BC to modern times. By clicking on any tab above the maps you can learn about topics such as flags, geography, travel, and more.

In a recent exhibition on Ottoman culture held in Amsterdam's Nieuwe Kerk was an unimpressive-looking little 18th-century book, a printed version of a manuscript produced 150 years earlier. Usually a manuscript is more rare than a...