RS- Pre-Islamic Arabia

RS- Pre-Islamic Arabia

1. Social life of the arabs

   • To lose tribe identity membership was to lose identity and protection
   • Poetry was important in the Arab culture and also the oral tradition
   • Sheikh- the leader of the tribe
   • Sheep, camel rearing and some horse breeding were bedouin occupation

2. Geographical location

   • Mecca's wealth dependent on the trade from passing traders in caravans
   • Sailing ships between Yemen and India
   • Mecca in the centre of two trading points Yemen and Syria
   • It was known as a place of pilgrimage and traders would visit in on the way and buy and sell goods and put their tribe's idol in the Kaba which was thought to bring them prosperity

3. Political situation

   • Roman empire had become the byzantine empire in east
   • 3 major empires, Sassanian, Byzantine and Abyssinian
   • Sassanian empire ruled from China to Iraq and North India to the Caspian Sea
   • Sassanian and Byzantine Empire at war 614-628AD