From the Maghreb to the Hejaz, the Middle East has undergone more change in the last century than ever before: It has witnessed foreign rule and altered borders; independence and state formation; war and hunger; peace, prosperity and development. Today, the Middle East faces some of the biggest challenges yet, as citizens confront leaders, demanding an end to corruption and a greater voice in government. Throughout it all, the people of the region have shown remarkable tenacity and resilience and have fought to protect and preserve their history, faiths and cultural traditions--as this photo essay illustrates.
The Middle East Before and After
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View from a distance: Jericho, West Bank (L) By American Colony (Jerusalem) Photo Dept., photographer, ca. 1900-1920. Library of Congress (R) "Jericho, City of the Moon, City of Stars," 5 December 2012, Creative Commons/Deror Avi.
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Snow over Jerusalem (L) c. 1898-1946, by American Colony Photo Department or its successor, the Matson Photo Service, (R) 11 Jan. 2013. CC/Yair Haklai.
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Jews praying at Western Wall, Jerusalem (L) ca. 1898-1946. Library of Congress (R) Creative Commons/Kapsuglan.
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Christians celebrate Easter at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem (L) ca. 1898, Library of Congress (R) Creative Commons/Deror Avi.