Questions and tasks.

1. What impact did the natural conditions of the Arabian Peninsula have on the activities and life of the population?

The natural conditions of the Arabian Peninsula had a great influence on the activities and life of the population. Almost the entire territory of the Arabian Peninsula is occupied by deserts and steppes, which are suitable for nomadic cattle breeding. The climate is dry and hot, and it rarely rains. In the south and west of Arabia there are oases (there is water and fertile soil), so the sedentary Arabs were engaged in agriculture there - they cultivated barley, date palms, grapes, fruit trees, sugar cane, cotton. Also, coastal areas were suitable for agriculture. At the intersection of trade routes, relatively big cities where handicrafts and trade developed. The local craftsmen were especially famous for their leather processing and weapons making. In the south of Arabia, gold was mined, incense and other aromatic resins were collected.

2. Tell us about the activities of the Arabs. Explain why activities affect your lifestyle.

The majority of the population of the peninsula were nomads (Bedouins) who were engaged in cattle breeding and trade, as well as robbing trade caravans or guarding them (most often all at the same time).
In the oases, people were engaged in agriculture and learned to build complex irrigation structures; they used a variety of metal implements to cultivate the land. Being engaged in agriculture, people were attached to fertile soil and water, therefore they led a sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary cattle breeding, handicrafts and trade also developed there.
What nomads could trade, they brought for sale in large cities located along the coast of the Red Sea. Large trading posts appeared on it early: Mecca, Yathrib, etc. Here, to Mecca, Taif and Yathrib, Medina. Trade facilitated the creation of cities that were located at the intersection of trade routes. In the south of Arabia, gold was mined, incense and other aromatic resins were collected. Crafts and trade developed in large cities. The local craftsmen were especially famous for their leather processing and weapons making.
Classes depended on the natural conditions of a particular area and influenced the way of life of the Arabs. It was the occupation that determined how they ran the economy, and also influenced the level of cultural and social development... All this determined their way of life. For example, the Bedouins were engaged in cattle breeding. And, since there were often not enough pastures, they led a nomadic lifestyle. In addition, cattle breeding did not always provide sufficient means of subsistence, and the Bedouins, on occasion, robbed neighbors, as well as merchant caravans.

3. Tell us about the beliefs of the ancient Arabs.

Most of the Arabs were pagans. They knew Judaism and Christianity - religions preaching monotheism. The common Arabian shrine was the Kaaba (translated from Arabic - cube) in Mecca. In the corner of this large cubic building was the "black stone", which, according to legend, God gave to Adam. In South Arabia, the moon was worshiped. In the North, there are betilam - upright stones symbolizing ancestors. The Arabs greatly revered their deceased ancestors.

4*. What can you say about the people who created the following lines: "Our ancestors, who were among the first in commendable deeds, ensured our primacy"?

About this people we can say that the Arabs honored their ancestors, praised their heroic deeds. The Arabs venerated the deceased ancestors. The Bedouin never drove past the burial place without adding a stone or a branch to the pile that already covered the grave. Respect for ancestors is a characteristic feature of the Arabs. It was a great misfortune for them to die away from their tribe. Respect for ancestors is a favorite theme of Old Arab poets:"The primacy was ensured to us by our ancestors, who were among the first in meritorious deeds." (Hassan ibn Thabit)

Arabia at the beginning of the 7th century

Thanks to the main Muslim shrines in Mecca and Medina (Hejaz region) and, at the same time, the remoteness of the Arabian Peninsula from political center Of the Caliphate (Baghdad), representatives of the local clan and tribal elite, as well as religious leaders, since the end of the 8th century, become virtually independent from the power of the Baghdad caliphs. At the same time, the economic, religious and political significance of the Hejaz determined the desire of the dynasties that ruled in Baghdad, and then in Cairo, to maintain their dominance here.

At this time, Oman, the eastern region of Arabia, became the center of the followers of the Kharijite religious and political movement. The dynasty of Aal al-Juland is established here. In Bahrain, the militant Karmats (representatives of one of the extreme currents in Shiism) are consolidating, striving to conquer neighboring territories (anti-Caliph uprisings in southern Iraq have repeatedly flared up under Karmat slogans.) On the territory of modern Yemen, states emerge headed by the dynasties of Ziyadids, Yafurids and Zeidi imperialists.

Traditional "tower" house in the mountainous regions of the Arabian Peninsula

Since the beginning of the XI century. the Fatimids came to power in Egypt, who were recognized by the dynasties of southern Arabia - the Sulaikhids and the Najahids. Subsequently, their lands were occupied by rivals - the Zuraids and Hamdanids, and then the Mahdids.

In the 70s. XII century. the troops of the Ayyubids (the rulers of Egypt from among the descendants of Salah ad-Din (Saladin)) invade Yemen. The Ayyubid rule in Yemen continued until 1229, when the Rasulid dynasty reigned here. By the middle of the 15th century. Rasulids, who were at enmity with the Zaidi imams, are losing their position in the region. A few years later, most of southern Yemen came under the rule of the Tahirid dynasty.

At the beginning of the XVI century. The Arabian Peninsula falls into the sphere of interests of Portugal and the Ottoman Empire. The rulers of Oman from the Yarubid dynasty have vigorously resisted European penetration.

Rub al-Khali Desert, Arabian Peninsula

In the XVIII century. an active policy of conquest is pursued by the Albusaids, who tried to challenge the Portuguese and Dutch for control over trade in the Persian Gulf. In the second half of the 18th century. Great Britain, France, and also the Wahhabis of Central Arabia are included in this struggle. As a result, English influence became predominant in the Persian Gulf, and the British East India Company managed to obtain exclusive trade rights.

In the XVIII century. in the central Arabian region of Najd, a new Muslim religious and political movement, Wahhabism, is emerging. The founder of the Wahhabite state was the ruler of the small emirate of Diriyya (in the Najd region), Muhammad ibn Saud (1735 - 1765). He became the founder of the Saudi dynasty, which continues to rule in Saudi Arabia to this day.

V early XIX v. Saudi rule extends to all of central Arabia. They manage to establish control over the holy cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina. However, in 1818, the Saudi state was destroyed by the invading forces of the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, who invaded Arabia.

After 1840, when Egyptian troops were forced to leave Arabia, the Saudis rebuild their state. The city of Riyadh becomes the new capital of the revived state (instead of Diriyya destroyed by the Egyptians).

In the second half of the XIX century. The territory of the Saudis state is captured by the rulers of the Shammar principality (North Arabia) - Rashidids. But at the beginning of the 20th century, the Saudis, under the leadership of the energetic young emir Abdel-Aziz ibn Abd al-Rahman (Ibn Saud - the future first king of Saudi Arabia), liberated Nejd from the power of the Rashidids.

In the second half of the XIX - early XX centuries. the colonial policy of Great Britain in the region is becoming more and more aggressive. She spreads her influence over the territory of South Yemen. The main stronghold of the British in the south of Arabia is the city they built and the strategically important port of Aden. With the emirs and sheikhs of the southern regions of Yemen, the British conclude treaties of "friendship", and subsequently - a protectorate.

During the First World War (1914 - 1918) Great Britain was active in the region. During the fighting against Turkish troops on the front between Egypt and Palestine, the British are trying to raise the local Arab population against the Turks.

With the help and political pressure of England in 1916, an anti-Turkish uprising took place in the Hejaz, led by the Hashemite dynasty (rulers of Mecca). After the war, with the support of Great Britain, representatives of this dynasty came to power in Iraq and Transjordan.

In central Arabia, after World War I, the Saudis continue to struggle to unify Arabia. In 1926, they defeat the Hashemites in the Hejaz and occupy this vital area with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

In 1927, Emir Abdel-Aziz ibn Abd ar-Rahman (Ibn Saud) was proclaimed the king of "Hejaz, Najd and annexed regions", and in 1932 the new state began to be called Saudi Arabia.

Literature:

... Vasiliev A. M. Puritans of Islam? Wahhabism and the first Saudi state in Arabia M., 1967.
Vasiliev A.M. History of Saudi Arabia. M., 1982.
Kotlov L. N. Yemen Arab Republic. Directory. M., 1971.
Lutskiy VB New history of the Arab countries. M., 1965.
An-Naubakhti, al-Hasan ibn Mussa. Shiite sects. Per. with arab. and comments. S. M. Prozorova. M., 1973.
Petrushevsky I.P. Islam in Iran in the 7th - 15th centuries. Leningrad, 1966.
Ash-Shahrastani. A book about religions and sects. Per. from arab., introduction and commentary. S. M. Prozorova. M., 1984.

§ 1. Pre-Islamic Arabia: sociocultural and religious characteristics

Geographic conditions and population. At the beginning of the 7th century, on the eve of the emergence of Islam, Arabia was a rather closed and isolated corner of the world. If you look at the map, we will see that the Arabian Peninsula is washed on three sides sea ​​waters: The Red Sea from the west, the Indian Ocean from the south and the Persian Gulf from the east. And only to the north, behind the boundless sands of the Nefud deserts, stretched Sham (modern Jordan, Syria and Palestine), and nearby, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, lay Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). The climatic and geographical conditions of life on this peninsula are rather harsh. In summer, the heat reaching 50 degrees and the bright light of the sun burns out all living things, but in winter, when the heat subsides, the sharp drop in day and night temperatures (from zero to 30 degrees) does not allow vegetation to develop. Sandy deserts and rocky plateaus create a harsh landscape, the absence of rain makes these areas arid and barren. Small oases, formed around wells and springs at a distance of hundreds of kilometers from each other, only occasionally brighten up this lifeless desert. The fauna of Arabia is also poor. Animals rarely appear among the local sands. Birds of prey feed on the remains of wild donkeys, antelopes and small rodents, which are attacked by foxes, wolves and hyenas.

For the inhabitants of Arabia, the camel, the "ship of the desert", was and remains a faithful companion and reliable friend. It is an indispensable means of transportation in conditions of heat, dryness and scarce pasture, since it can go without drinking for up to five days and carry a quarter of a ton of cargo on its hump, running up to 130 kilometers per day. No other mount can compete with the camel in this respect. But the camel was previously used also during plowing, and for raising water from deep wells, it provided the owners with milk, wool, leather and meat. Since not everyone could afford to slaughter such an important helper for meat, the Arabian nomads kept a large livestock of sheep and goats.

Despite the harsh climate and poor vegetation of the desert, the Arabs, a proud and hospitable people, have lived on the Arabian Peninsula since ancient times. The Arabs belong to a Semitic family and are direct descendants of Ibrahim (biblical Abraham). After the aging wife of the patriarch Sarah (biblical Sarah) bore him a boy Ishaq (biblical Isaac), she demanded to send his firstborn son Ismail, born of Hajar (biblical Hagar), to Arabia. Ismail's descendants began to be called Arabs. The word "Arabs" in the ancient Semitic language denoted peoples who roamed across the rivers in the wide expanses of the desert. Over the centuries, the Arabs gradually spread throughout Arabia. Most of them became nomads (in Arabic it sounds badawi, hence the word Bedouin), but some remained sedentary and lived in oases and cities. Sedentary Arabs created a large ancient Yemenite civilization in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. The states of Saba, Main, Kataban and Hadhramaut, which arose at the end of the 2nd millennium BC. e., had a highly developed culture comparable to the culture of the ancient Egyptians and Assyrians, Jews and Persians. Ancient Yemenis built large cities in dry rivers (wadi), built high dams and huge reservoirs, created their own pantheon of gods, worshiping the sun, moon and stars. They learned to carve inscriptions on large limestone slabs using the ancient square script that served as the prototype for the Ethiopian and Armenian alphabets. In the north of the Arabian Peninsula, in the first centuries of our era, the Arab city-states of Palmyra and Nabatea were founded.

However, the overwhelming majority of Arabs remained Bedouin nomads and were engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture, moving across the vast expanses of the Arabian Peninsula. Only a few dozen oases in the center of the peninsula turned into small settlements where the Arabs settled. Such settlements were Mecca, Yasrib, Taif.

Social life. For an Arab, the main living environment is the tribe. Arabs call their tribe a word banu, which translates as "sons": the main principle of social organization in pre-Islamic Arabia was consanguinity in the male line with collective ownership of land and pastures. The oldest and most famous man formed the initial genealogical link - eponym, to which all subsequent generations of male children referred to themselves, calling themselves the sons of such and such. For example, the Prophet Muhammad came from the tribe bonu hashim, that is, "the sons of Hashim." Gradually, the tribe grew, it included not only relatives, but also those who, according to the ancient Arab tradition of hospitality and love of freedom, were under the protection of the tribe: adopted children, strangers who joined, released slaves and others.

At the head of the tribe were the leaders who occupied a dominant position not so much in origin, but because of personal authority, courage and wealth. Heads of clans gathered around the leader, who formed the council of the tribe. It was the tribal council that made the most important decisions: electing a leader, starting a war with neighbors, distributing booty and land. Members of the tribe lived in large families and clans, headed by the elders. They were the guarantors of the safety and well-being of the family. No one could encroach on the life or property of the family without fear of revenge, for the principle of “all for one” was in effect. If someone from the family was killed or wounded, then the victims had the right to ransom: life for life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but sometimes the ransom was paid with cattle, money or food with the consent of the victims. The collective responsibility for each family member was a guarantee of social peace within the tribe, since the punishment was inevitable. The most terrible consequence of the offense was the expulsion from the family and tribe, because then a person turned out to be defenseless and anyone could kill, rob and insult him. The basis of the family was made up of men who fought, worked, and traded. The position of women was secondary, they ensured the continuation of the family, but did not form a genealogical line. Women did not have the right to inheritance, and in the event of the death of their husbands, they were deprived of the opportunity to independently determine their future fate. Usually the eldest son inherited his father's widows along with his property and took them as wives. In the conditions of the harsh desert, women became a burden for the family. It is for this reason that some tribes even had a custom to bury newborn girls in the ground so that they would not be extra mouths during the hungry season. Because men were more likely to die or die, there was unlimited polygamy.

Beliefs. The beliefs of the Arabs were associated with the names of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, although they had little in common with their monotheistic tradition. There were only a few of those who worshiped Allah alone, rejecting various manifestations of paganism, and they called themselves Hanifs. Among most Arabs, idolatry, worship of stones, rocks, trees, animals, stars, as well as various superstitions were widespread. Some of the most revered idols were Lat, Uzza and Manat, whose names are mentioned in the Qur'an. Sometimes the graves of the righteous were turned into idols, over which temples were built. The main place where idols were gathered was the Kaaba - a cubic temple in Mecca, near which each Arab tribe installed an image of its deity. On the eve of the emergence of Islam, over three hundred idols had accumulated around the Kaaba.

According to tradition, the first to spread idolatry among the descendants of Ismail was a Khuzaite leader named Amr bin Luhai. He was known for his generosity and piety, which helped him win the love and respect of his fellow tribesmen. Sometimes, during the pilgrimage season, he slaughtered ten thousand camels and distributed ten thousand clothes to visitors. During a trip to Sham, he first became acquainted with idolatry and took it for the truth, because this area was the birthplace of many prophets and the place of revelation. Returning to Mecca, Amr brought with him an idol called Hubal. He installed it inside the Kaaba and encouraged his fellow tribesmen to worship him. The inhabitants of the city obeyed him. Since the Meccans were considered the guardians of the Kaaba and were respected by the rest of the Arabs, most of the Arab tribes soon followed suit.

Paganism was so deeply rooted in the minds of the Arabs that idols were not only in every settlement, but also in every home. Going on a trip, the pagans took four stones with them, three of which they put under the cauldron, and the fourth was worshiped, circling around it. In order to please their gods, they allocated part of the harvest to them and sacrificed livestock to them. The pagans did not consider their idols to be omnipotent, but believed that the idols bring their prayers to the supreme god - Allah, who alone rules the world.

A large role in the religious beliefs of the Arabs was played by spirits who embodied the forces of good and evil. The Arabs believed that spirits are capable of harming and helping people, revealing to them the secret and intimate. Usually the spirits were summoned by soothsayers and sorcerers who practiced magic and divination, helped to heal the sick and find lost animals. Among the pagans, the tradition was widespread to turn to soothsayers before traveling, getting married, or when making an important decision.

The Arabians had certain ideas about the religions of neighboring peoples. This was facilitated by the trade ties that they established with Syria, Palmyra, Hadhramaut and other regions. Some Arab tribes professed Christianity, a large community of Christians lived in Najran. There were several Jewish settlements in the Hejaz, and Jewish scholars were trusted and respected by the inhabitants of Mecca and other cities. Despite this, Judaism and Christianity did not spread among the Arabs, and with the advent of Islam, the overwhelming majority of Arab Christians and Jews became followers of the Prophet Muhammad.

Neighbors of the Arabs. Arabia has been the object of interest of many neighboring states. Even the ancient Egyptians opened the way through the Sinai Peninsula to South Arabia and carried incense and jewelry from there. Legends about a rich and happy Arabia were passed on to the Romans and Byzantines, who dreamed of conquering the Arabs. But the Bedouins, fearless warriors and nomads, reliably guarded the borders of the desert, which in itself was inhospitable to strangers: the lack of water and food, heat and sand did not give enemies the opportunity to penetrate deep into the depths. The campaigns of the Roman commander Aelius Gallus in the 1st century BC NS. and the Ethiopian ruler Abrahi in 570 showed the futility of attempts to conquer Arabia.

So the nomadic Arabs lived in isolation from the whole world until the middle of the 7th century.

From the north, they were bordered by the Byzantine Empire, whose capital Constantinople (modern Istanbul) was far from Arabia. In the Byzantine province of Sham, under the rule of the Greek metropolises, the Semitic peoples Arameans, Jews and Northern Arabs lived together. They were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding and paid huge taxes to the city rulers. The Christian Church served as a powerful instrument of influence on the Byzantine subjects, but Christianity was only the official religion, and the representatives of the Semitic peoples adhered to their traditional beliefs: Judaism or paganism.

The population of Mesopotamia, closest to Arabia, was also mainly Semitic: the descendants of the ancient Babylonians mixed with the Arameans and Jews and were in close contact with the northern Arabs.

To the east of Byzantium was the Sassanid state, equal in area, which extended over the territory of modern Iraq and Iran. The hereditary ruler of the Sassanian state, the Shahanshah, enjoyed tremendous support from fire worshipers - magicians and priests of Zoroastrianism - the official religion of Sassanian Iran.

Beyond the Red Sea, there was another strong power - Christian Ethiopia, which at the end of the 6th century conquered South Arabia, but under pressure from the Iranians who came here, the Ethiopians returned to the African continent and ceased to influence the life of Arabia.

Byzantium and Iran were strongly at enmity with each other, waged constant wars, which led to the decline of their economic life, social turmoil and crisis situations. Therefore, at the turn of the 6th-7th centuries, both powers were greatly weakened and experienced a crisis of power - the first harbinger of defeat, simultaneously plunging into the abyss of immorality and lack of spirituality. The dominant religious teachings at that time did not provide answers to pressing questions and were not able to inspire their followers to radically change the social order. The Jews who managed to preserve a significant part of their religious heritage, as a rule, were dependent on other peoples. They were persecuted and oppressed, unable to significantly influence the course of history.

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Pre-Islamic Arabia: Socio-Cultural and Religious Features Geographic Conditions and Population. At the beginning of the 7th century, Arabia was a rather isolated corner of the world. The Arabian Peninsula is washed on three sides by sea waters: the red sea from the west,

What is the Arab world and how did it develop? This article will focus on his culture and development of science, history and peculiarities of his worldview. What was it like several centuries ago and what does the Arab world look like today? What is attributed to him today?

The essence of the concept of "the Arab world"

This concept means a certain geographic region, consisting of the countries of the northern and eastern parts of Africa, the Middle East, inhabited by Arabs (a group of peoples). In each of them, Arabic is the official language (or one of the official ones, as in Somalia).

The total area of ​​the Arab world is approximately 13 million km 2, making it the second largest geolinguistic unit on the planet (after Russia).

The Arab world should not be confused with the concept of "Muslim world", used exclusively in a religious context, as well as with an international organization called the "League of Arab States", created in 1945.

Geography of the Arab world

Which states of the planet are customarily included in the Arab world? The photo below gives a general idea of ​​its geography and structure.

So, the Arab world includes 23 states. Moreover, two of them are partially not recognized by the international community (in the list below they are marked with asterisks). These states are home to about 345 million people, which is no more than 5% of the total world population.

All the countries of the Arab world are listed below, in order of decreasing population. It:

1. Egypt.
2. Morocco.
3. Algeria.
4. Sudan.
5. Saudi Arabia.
6. Iraq.
7. Yemen.
8. Syria.
9. Tunisia.
10. Somalia.
11. Jordan.
12. Libya.
13. Lebanon.
14. Palestine*.
15. Mauritania.
16. Oman.
17. Kuwait.
18. Qatar.
19. Comoros.
20. Bahrain.
21. Djibouti.
22. West Sahara*.

The largest cities in the Arab world are Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad, Mecca, Rabat, Algeria, Riyadh, Khartoum, Alexandria.

An essay on the ancient history of the Arab world

The history of the development of the Arab world began long before the rise of Islam. In those ancient times, the peoples who today are an integral part of this world still communicated in their own languages ​​(although they were related to Arabic). Information about what was the history of the Arab world in antiquity, we can draw from Byzantine or ancient Roman sources. Of course, looking through the prism of time can be very distorted.

The ancient Arab world was perceived by the highly developed states (Iran, the Roman and Byzantine empires) as poor and semi-savage. In their view, it was a desert land with a small and nomadic population. In fact, the nomads made up the overwhelming minority, and most of the Arabs led a sedentary way of life, gravitating towards the valleys of small rivers and oases. After the domestication of the camel, the caravan trade began to develop here, which for many inhabitants of the planet became a reference (stereotyped) image of the Arab world.

The first beginnings of statehood emerged in the north of the Arabian Peninsula. Even earlier, according to historians, the ancient state of Yemen was born in the south of the peninsula. However, contacts of other powers with this formation were minimal due to the presence of a huge desert of several thousand kilometers.

The Arab-Muslim world and its history are well described in the book "History of Arab Civilization" by Gustave Le Bon. It was published in 1884, it was translated into many languages ​​of the world, including Russian. The book is based on the author's independent travels in the Middle East and North Africa.

Arab world in the Middle Ages

In the 6th century, the Arabs already made up the majority of the population of the Arabian Peninsula. Soon the Islamic religion was born here, after which the Arab conquests began. In the 7th century, a new state entity began to form - the Arab Caliphate, which spread over vast expanses from Hindustan to the Atlantic, from the Sahara to the Caspian Sea.

Numerous tribes and peoples of northern Africa very quickly assimilated into Arab culture, easily adopting their language and religion. In turn, the Arabs also absorbed some elements of their culture.

If in Europe the era of the Middle Ages was marked by the decline of science, then in the Arab world it was actively developing at that time. This applied to many of its industries. Algebra, psychology, astronomy, chemistry, geography and medicine reached their maximum development in the medieval Arab world.

The Arab Caliphate existed for a relatively long time. In the 10th century, the processes of feudal fragmentation of a great power began. Ultimately, the once united Arab Caliphate disintegrated into many separate countries. Most of them in the 16th century became part of the next empire - the Ottoman. In the 19th century, the lands of the Arab world became colonies of European states - Britain, France, Spain and Italy. Today all of them have become independent and sovereign countries again.

Features of the culture of the Arab world

The culture of the Arab world cannot be imagined without the Islamic religion, which has become its integral part. Thus, unshakable faith in Allah, veneration of the Prophet Muhammad, fasting and daily prayers, as well as a pilgrimage to Mecca (the main shrine for every Muslim) are the main "pillars" of the religious life of all residents of the Arab world. Mecca, by the way, was a holy place for the Arabs even in pre-Islamic times.

Islam, according to researchers, is in many ways similar to Protestantism. In particular, he also does not condemn wealth, and the commercial activity of a person is evaluated from the point of view of morality.

In the Middle Ages, it was in the Arabic language that a huge number of works on history were written: chronicles, chronicles, biographical dictionaries, etc. With special trepidation in the Muslim culture, they treated (and are) concerned with the image of the word. The so-called Arabic script is not just a calligraphic letter. The beauty of the written letters among the Arabs is equated with the ideal beauty of the human body.

The traditions of Arab architecture are no less interesting and noteworthy. The classical type of Muslim temple with mosques was formed in the 7th century. It is a closed (deaf) rectangular courtyard, inside which a gallery of arches is attached. In the part of the courtyard that faces Mecca, there is a luxuriously decorated and spacious prayer hall, crowned with a spherical dome on top. Above the temple, as a rule, one or more sharp towers (minarets) rises, which are designed to call Muslims to prayer.

Among the most famous monuments of Arab architecture can be called in Syrian Damascus (VIII century), as well as the Ibn Tulunna mosque in Egyptian Cairo, the architectural elements of which are generously decorated with beautiful floral ornaments.

There are no gilded icons or any images or paintings in Muslim temples. But the walls and arches of the mosques are decorated with graceful arabesques. This is a traditional Arabic pattern, consisting of geometric patterns and floral ornaments (it should be noted that the artistic depiction of animals and people is considered sacrilegious in Muslim culture). Arabesques, according to European culturologists, are "afraid of emptiness." They completely cover the surface and eliminate the presence of any colored background.

Philosophy and Literature

Very closely related to the Islamic religion. One of the most famous Muslim philosophers is the thinker and physician Ibn Sina (980 - 1037). He is considered the author of no less than 450 works on medicine, philosophy, logic, arithmetic and other areas of knowledge.

The most famous work of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is "The Canon of Medicine". The texts from this book have been used for many centuries in various universities in Europe. Another work of his, "The Book of Healing", also significantly influenced the development of Arab philosophical thought.

The most famous literary monument of the medieval Arab world is a collection of fairy tales and stories "A Thousand and One Nights". In this book, researchers have discovered elements of pre-Islamic Indian and Persian stories. Over the centuries, the composition of this collection has changed, it acquired its final form only in the XIV century.

The development of science in the modern Arab world

During the Middle Ages, the Arab world occupied a leading position on the planet in the field scientific advances and discoveries. It was Muslim scientists who "gave" algebra to the world, made a huge leap forward in the development of biology, medicine, astronomy and physics.

However, today the countries of the Arab world pay catastrophically little attention to science and education. Today in these states there are just over a thousand universities, and only 312 of them have scientists who publish their articles in scientific journals. In history, only two Muslims have won the Nobel Prize in Science.

What is the reason for such a striking contrast between "then" and "now"?

Historians have no single answer to this question. Most of them explain this decline of science by the feudal fragmentation of the once united Arab state (Caliphate), as well as the emergence of various Islamic schools, which provoked more and more disagreements and conflicts. Another reason may be that the Arabs know their own history poorly enough and are not proud of the great successes of their ancestors.

War and terrorism in the modern Arab world

Why are Arabs fighting? The Islamists themselves claim that in this way they are trying to restore the former might of the Arab world and gain independence from Western countries.

It is important to note that the main holy book of Muslims, the Koran, does not deny the possibility of seizing foreign territories and levying tribute on the seized lands (this is indicated by the eighth sura "Production"). In addition, it has always been much easier to spread your religion with weapons.

Since ancient times, the Arabs have become famous as brave and rather cruel warriors. Neither the Persians nor the Romans dared to fight with them. And desert Arabia did not attract the attention of large empires too much. However, Arab soldiers were gladly accepted into service in the Roman army.

After the end of the First World War, the Arab-Muslim civilization plunged into the deepest crisis, which historians compare with the Thirty Years' War of the 17th century in Europe. It is obvious that any such crisis sooner or later ends with a surge of radical sentiments and active impulses to revive, return the "golden age" in its history. The same processes are taking place in the Arab world today. So, in Africa, a terrorist organization is raging in Syria and Iraq - ISIS. The aggressive activity of the latter entity already goes far beyond the Muslim states.

The modern Arab world is tired of wars, conflicts and clashes. But no one knows exactly how to extinguish this "fire".

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is often called the heart of the Arab-Muslim world today. Here are the main shrines of Islam - the cities of Mecca and Medina. The main (and, in fact, the only) religion in this state is Islam. Representatives of other religions are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia, but they may not be allowed to enter Mecca or Medina. Also, "tourists" are strictly prohibited from displaying any symbols of a different faith in the country (for example, wearing crosses, etc.).

In Saudi Arabia there is even a special "religious" police, whose purpose is to suppress possible violations of the laws of Islam. Religious criminals face appropriate punishment - from a monetary fine to execution.

Despite all of the above, Saudi Arabian diplomats are actively working on the world stage in the interests of defending Islam, and maintain partnerships with Western countries. The state has a difficult relationship with Iran, which also claims to be the leader in the region.

Syrian Arab Republic

Syria is another important center of the Arab world. At one time (under the Umayyads), it was in the city of Damascus that the capital of the Arab Caliphate was located. Today, the country continues to bloody Civil War(since 2011). Westerners often criticize Syria, accusing its leadership of human rights violations, torture and significant restrictions on freedom of speech.

About 85% are Muslim. However, the "non-believers" have always felt free and rather comfortable here. The laws of the Koran on the territory of the country are perceived by its inhabitants, rather, as traditions.

Arab Republic of Egypt

The largest (by population) country in the Arab world is Egypt. 98% of its inhabitants are Arabs, 90% are Muslims (Sunni trend). In Egypt, there is a huge number of tombs with Muslim saints, which attract thousands of pilgrims on religious holidays.

Islam in modern Egypt has a significant impact on the life of society. However, Muslim laws here are significantly relaxed and adjusted to the realities of the 21st century. It is interesting to note that most of the ideologues of the so-called "radical Islam" were educated at the University of Cairo.

Finally...

The Arab world means a special historical region, roughly covering the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Geographically, it includes 23 modern states.

The culture of the Arab world is specific and very closely related to the traditions and canons of Islam. The modern realities of this region are conservatism, poor development of science and education, the spread of radical ideas and terrorism.