Middle East: Timeline

1046   March 5, Naser Khosrow begins the seven-year Middle Eastern journey which he would later describe in his book ''Safarnameh''.

1265   The Mamluk Mamluk

A mamluk was a slave [i] soldier [i] who converted to Islam [i] and served the Muslim [i] caliph [i] ... 

 Bahri dynasty Bahri dynasty

[i] of [[Kipchak]... 

 of Egypt Egypt

[i] country in [[North Africa]... 

 captures several cities and towns from Crusader states in the Middle East, including the cities of Haifa Haifa

Haifa is the main city of northern Israel [i] and the third-largest city in the country, with a populat ... 

, Arsuf Arsuf

Arsuf was an ancient city and fortress located in Israel [i], about 15 kilometres north of Tel Aviv [i], ... 

, and Caesarea Palaestina Caesarea Palaestina

Caesarea Palaestina, also called Caesarea Maritima, a town built by Herod the Great [i] about 25 1 ... 

; these events eventually precipitate the Eighth Crusade in 1267.

1908   At Masjid-al-Salaman in southwest Persia Iran

Throughout history, Iran has been of great geostrategic [i] importance because of its centr ... 

, the first major commercial oil strike in the Middle East is made. The rights to the resource are quickly acquired by the United Kingdom United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

.

1975   Left-wing terrorists, including Carlos (the Jackal), kidnap delegates of an OPEC OPEC

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is a cartel [i] made up of Algeria [i], Indonesia [i] ... 

 conference in Vienna Vienna

Vienna is the capital [i] of Austria [i], and also one of the nine States of Austria [i]. ... 

. They kill three hostages, extort $5 million ransom and escape into the Middle East.

2005   Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI is the 265th and reigning Pope [i] of the Roman Catholic Church [i], and as such, Monarch [i] ... 

 leads his first Christmas Christmas

Christmas is a holiday [i] on the Christian [i] calendar, celebrating the birth of Jesus [i]. ... 

 Midnight Mass as Pope, praying for peace in the Middle East.