ProcheOrient

ProcheOrient is a term used in French-language discourse to denote the Near East, a historical and geographical region at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe. In general usage, Proche-Orient refers to the area traditionally associated with the Levant and Mesopotamia, including parts of modern-day Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and, depending on the author or period, sometimes Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. The term derives from the French words proche meaning near and orient meaning east, and serves as the conventional equivalent of the English term Near East. Variants such as Proche-Orient or ProcheOrient are encountered in different texts and editions.

In scholarly writing, ProcheOrient has appeared in historical, archaeological, philological, and cultural studies to distinguish the Near East from broader regional labels. The exact geographic scope varies, with some sources emphasizing ancient empires of Mesopotamia and the Levant, while others apply the term to more recent historical periods up to the early 20th century. The term is often encountered in francophone scholarship, museum labels, and historical overviews.

In contemporary usage, ProcheOrient is primarily a francophone scholarly label. In English-language contexts, the term Near East is still used in historical and classical studies, though many scholars prefer Middle East or West Asia for contemporary geopolitical discussions. See also Near East, Middle East, Levant, Mesopotamia.