The sea "in the middle of the land" is a geographical peculiarity: it is located between three continents and is almost entirely enclosed by land. This proximity has both united and divided nations and civilizations since the beginning of mankind, making the Mediterranean, a mere 1% of the planet's oceans, a millennial epicentre of History. Today, the Mediterranean Sea is still the busiest maritime route in the world. 90% of world merchandise trade is routed via maritime traffic through the different seas and oceans of the planet and the Mediterranean Sea is at the core of this global trade process.