The Middle East was the cradle of early civilizations like Sumer, Babylon, and Phoenicia. It was also a crossroads of trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Many major religions originated here, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Islam in particular arose in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula under the prophet Muhammad and grew to dominate much of the region politically. The Middle East has seen the rise and fall of many powerful empires that have conquered and influenced its peoples over millennia.