Final answer:
The northern coast of Africa is most closely connected to the Mediterranean region due to cultural, historical, and geographical ties, as well as the diffusion of Islam from the Middle East and Central Asia into North Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The region of the world most closely connected to the northern coast of Africa is the Mediterranean region. This part of North Africa has a coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, has experienced significant cultural contact, and shares historical ties with other Mediterranean cultures, such as the Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans. The Mediterranean world has had a huge impact on North Africa culturally, as Islam diffused from the Middle East and Central Asia into North Africa, bringing Arab influence and culture along with it. North Africa's arable land, suitable for growing grains like wheat and barley, has similarities to the agricultural practices that began in the Fertile Crescent, suggesting a deep-rooted agricultural relationship. On the contrary, the movement of people, technologies, and cultures across the Sahara has been historically limited, whereas the Mediterranean connection has been stronger and more consistent.