Mediterranean refers to the large sea between Europe, Africa, and Asia, and to the lands and cultures surrounding it. The Mediterranean Sea connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar and has shaped human civilization for thousands of years.

The Mediterranean region includes countries like Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel. These lands share certain features: hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters; foods like olives, grapes, wheat, and fish; and thousands of years of connected history. Ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans all flourished around the Mediterranean, using it as a highway for trade, warfare, and the exchange of ideas.

Today we use Mediterranean to describe the climate (warm and sunny), the cuisine (featuring olive oil, fresh vegetables, and grilled fish), or the distinctive blue waters and whitewashed buildings you might see in travel photos.

When geographers talk about a mediterranean climate, they mean any region in the world with similar weather patterns, like coastal California or parts of Australia, even though these places aren't near the actual Mediterranean Sea.