ABSTRACT
The Arab World, which includes twenty-one sovereign states plus Palestine, extends over an area of 5.4 million square miles at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The region's total population is estimated to be about two hundred million. Over the years, the region experienced several invasions and occupations by such groups as the Romans, Persians, European Crusaders, Ottomans, Italians, French, and British. These occupiers left their imprint on the Arab countries they occupied in such areas as law and public administration, architecture, religion, and education, as well as political process. Table 1 provides a summary view of the population, population growth patterns, and area for each Arab country.
