Southwest Asia and North Africa have had a long historical connection largely due to geography, human migration, trade, and the spread of ideologies such as Islam and Christianity. The proximity of these two regions has led to the developments of each locations culture in similar ways to one another. Most importantly these two regions have been a melting pot of ideas and peoples because of the intersection of global trade routes through this two important regions that linked Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. These interactions have dated back centuries. Another important facet of these regions relations is the role that Islam and Christianity have played over the centuries. The regions today are predominately Muslim and this has shaped the cultural life in each region and also connected the regions in unique ways.
