The National Middle East History Competition (NMEHC) represents a unique opportunity for college students from across North America to deepen their understanding of the history, culture, and politics of the Middle East.

Understanding the region’s leaders and thinkers, empires and regimes, revolutionary movements, challenges, and inflection points is essential to understanding modern politics and current events. Yet at a time when the Middle East remains central to American foreign policy and public debate, Americans’ historical understanding of the region is too often shallow, fragmented, or shaped by the latest news cycle and social media. As the Middle East continues to shape the course of world affairs, a strong foundation in its history is more important than ever.

NMEHC seeks to foster intellectual excellence in the study of Middle East history while encouraging the next generation of leaders, scholars, and experts to engage seriously with the region. We invite students to participate in this rigorous and distinctive learning opportunity, join a community of intellectually curious peers, and build meaningful professional connections along the way.