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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Damascus street scenes (L) American Colony (Jerusalem) Photo, ca. 1920-1933, Library of Congress (R) CC/Tigr.

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Beirut street scenes (L) ca. 1900-1920, American Colony (Jerusalem) Photo Dept. Library of Congress. (R) Street, Beirut central district, 18 Oct. 2008, rebuilt after 15-year civil war. Creative Commons/James Gallegher.

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Pilgrims during Hajj, Mecca, Saudi Arabia (L) ca. 1910, American Colony (Jerusalem). Photo Dept. Library of Congress. (R) 29 October 2012. Creative Commons.

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Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan (L) Eid al-Fitr festivities in cemetery, Jaffa, 1897, Library of Congress. (R) Homs residents visiting a cemetery during Eid al-Fitr, 19 Aug. 2012. Reuters/SHAAM.