Describe the similarities between North African and Middle Eastern culture, and explain why the two cultures are similar.

Basically North African and Middle Eastern cultures have very similar traditional clothing styles, food, architecture, beliefs and art.

This is caused by two main factors: common environment and common rulers.

Both North Africa and the Middle East are hot, dry and deserty. Dominated by the Arabian-Syrian/Sahara Deserts, both cultures were greatly influenced by their harsh environment that necessitated certain adaptions (most notably clothing and certain foods, pork for example generally rots easily in the desert and becomes dangerous to eat).

There is also the issue of their common religion/rulers. A large portion of their joint history has been spent serving under one ruler or another (Rome, Abbassids, Ottomans, etc.) They also share a common religion, greatly influencing eachother.