And a number of other coastal states. There is also a small Arab population in Israel. The Arab world has almost 130 million people, of which 116 million are Arabs.
Many peoples were Arabized through the adoption of the Arabic language and Arabic culture. For almost all of them, Arabization came through Islam, the main religion of the Arab world.
Arabs are divided into three main groups: Bedouin pastoralists engaged in breeding sheep, goats or camels, peasant farmers and urban residents.
The Arab world also includes a number of non-Arab minorities, such as the Berbers and Tuaregs, the Kurds in Iraq, the Jews, the Armenians and some peoples of the Sudan region. Copts are Christians in Egypt and also speak Arabic, but consider themselves to be original pre-Arab Egyptians.
Key Populations
Most Bedouins live in Arabia and the neighboring desert regions of Jordan, Syria and Iraq, while some Bedouins live in Egypt and the northern Sahara. Their number ranges from 4 to 5 million. Bedouins lead a strictly tribal and nomadic lifestyle. The tribe and each of its parts is headed by a sheikh, considered the eldest in wisdom and experience. Bedouins are mainly engaged in camel breeding and sheep and goat farming.
The Bedouins include both Christians and Shia Muslims, but the majority are nominally either Wahhabi or Sunni Muslims. Bedouins are not as religious as Muslims in villages and cities, but at the same time they regularly perform the five rituals prescribed by Islam. daily prayers. Because most Bedouins are illiterate, they cannot read the Koran themselves and must rely on oral transmission of religious ideas. Together with many residents of villages and cities, they share the belief in evil eye and evil spirits as the cause of illness and misfortune, as well as the healing and protective powers of the tombs of various Muslim saints.
About 70% of Arabs live in villages and are peasants. Most Arab peasants have a deep sense of belonging to their village, whose inhabitants usually help each other in case of emergency. external threat. They are also united Religious holidays or funeral. But most of the time, the villagers find themselves divided into separate factions.
Arab cities are commercial, industrial, administrative and religious centers. Some of them are much like European cities, with large buildings, wide streets and heavy traffic. The traditional Arab city and those old areas of modern cities that still exist are characterized by narrow streets and closely packed houses, often with shops and workshops on the ground floors.
Story
Historical evidence from Mesopotamia begins to separate the Arabs from their other Semitic neighbors no earlier than the 1st millennium BC. At that time, the Arabs of southern Arabia had already created prosperous cities and kingdoms, such as Saba at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Western Arabia in the era of Christianity was inhabited by townspeople and nomads who spoke Arabic and considered their origins to go back to the biblical patriarchs (usually Ismail, see also the Hagarians), and in the city of Mecca they worshiped idols in a temple first built, presumably, by Abraham .
And a hundred years after the death of Muhammad, the territory of the spread of Islam extended from Spain through North Africa and southwest Asia to the borders of India. The spread of Islam provided the Arabs with a network of useful contacts, and together with dependent peoples - Christians, Jews, Persians, etc. - they built one of the greatest civilizations.
The Arabs believe that their homeland is the “Island of the Arabs.” Historians believe that this is not at all accidental, because the ancient Arabs initially lived surrounded by two seas and gulfs. The close proximity to the Syrian desert contributed to the isolation. As a result, the Arabian Peninsula could indeed be imagined as a territory separated from the rest of the world. For a long time Arab tribes were scattered and lived separately. Difficult climatic conditions and the need to live together for protection from adversity helped the Arabs gain a unified identity. Nowadays, the Arab people include a large group of people living in many regions of the world, including East Africa.
Story
The unification of the Arab tribes took place in the 3rd–2nd millennia BC. Historians call the tribes that existed then Semitic, which became the Arab people. Arabization affected the Phoenicians, Libyans, Egyptians and other nationalities.
First states Arab origin appeared in the 6th–5th centuries BC. These include Sabaean, Minean, Nabatean and others.
Historians often disagree in which year exactly the formation of the Arab nation took place. Presumably, this is the period of the 4th–6th centuries. AD
Cities actively developed, trade relations with nomads were established. At the same time, there was a development of trade with Syria, Ethiopia, and Iran. Poetry competitions were regularly held in Northern Arabia. It is in them that one can trace the formation of Arab identity and national patriotism. An important prerequisite for the unification of the tribes was the formation of two main languages (North Arabic and South Arabic).
Culture
Arab culture is credited with having a major influence on the world. Around the 4th century AD, the Arabs had already developed a written language. The Arab Caliphate united many states, and exact and applied sciences developed rapidly. The Arabs were especially interested in astronomy. They were one of the first to determine the size globe, admired the success of the Arabs in mathematics Western Europe. Trigonometric equations appeared at the turn of the 9th–10th centuries.
Even today, the prestige of the Arabs is scientists and doctors. Since ancient times, they have been fascinated by theoretical medicine and healing.
One of the founders of ophthalmology as a discipline was Ar-Razi, who actively developed geometric optics in the 10th century AD.
The cultural wealth of the Arabs is not limited to science. Architectural masterpieces are known all over the world. Among them are mosques, minarets, palaces. These types of buildings are considered unique, also due to their ornamentation.
Even during the period of the Crusades and the Mongol invasion, when destruction was observed cultural values, the Arab people were able to show serious achievements. Sciences no longer just developed, but began to be taught as disciplines. At the same time it developed fiction and ceramic processing.
In the early Middle Ages, folklore actively developed, and poets were incredibly highly valued. The everyday life of citizens included metaphors and sayings; the ability to speak beautifully was valued very highly. Poets praised their fellow tribesmen, increasing their authority. Poets were perceived differently among the people. People often said that inspiration comes to them from Satan, who listens to the conversations of angels. Often poets turned out to be impersonal - people were interested in their work, but not in their lives. Therefore, little is known about many representatives of the creative elite.
Among famous poets noteworthy is Abu Nuwas, who glorified feasts and love. Abul-Atahiya praised morality, emphasized the injustice of the way of life, and scolded worldly vanity. Al-Mutanabbi was known as a wanderer who honored the rulers of Iran, Egypt, and Syria. He did not hesitate to scold them and make peace.
Abul-Ala al-Maarri is considered the most significant poet among the Arab people. Al-Ma'arri was a Muslim who studied the Qur'an since childhood. While still a child, he lost his sight due to smallpox. However, this spurred him to study science, philosophy and gave impetus to the desire to understand the world. While traveling, the poet composed poems in which his contemporaries noted his deep erudition. Al-Maarri devoted a lot of work to the study of society, noting its vices.
Speaking about Arabic literature, it is impossible not to recall the work “A Thousand and One Nights”.
Everyone is familiar with Ali Baba, Aladdin, and Sinbad the Sailor. Exactly Arabian tales With youth introduce the reader to the peculiarities of the palace life of the Arab people.
Meaningful name The name of Omar Khayyam, a Persian philosopher, scientist and poet, became known in history. He embraced a hedonistic mindset and praised the joys of life.
Historians and orientalists are sincerely surprised by the desire to introduce poetry into a variety of works, including medical ones. Poems were preserved in the treatises, and later the Koran began to influence almost all literature.
The Koran is a collection of Islamic teachings. Its basis is the commandments, prayers, edifications and legal guidelines. It is in the Koran that the oldest loan agreement is set out, regulating the relationship between the borrower and the person providing the loan. The Koran makes it possible to read the parables of the Prophet Muhammad - followers of Islam learn suras by heart. Muslims divide sayings into those said by Muhammad and those said by Allah, calling recent revelations. The rest are called legends. The Qur'an was elevated to canon in the 7th century AD. A significant phenomenon for the Holy Scriptures are commentaries that allow believers to better understand the Scriptures.
Fanaticism of the teachings of the Koran appeared in the Middle Ages. The voluminous book was taught by heart, considering it at the same time a book for studying the Arabic language. The Koran was forbidden to be translated into other languages, but the scripture was allowed to be distributed among the Arab population. This contributed to the development Muslim culture Arab people.
Folklore
The folklore of the Arab people excites the minds of science fiction writers and fantasy lovers. There is a whole doctrine dedicated to genies - jinnology. In Islam, jinn are perceived as demons created from fire. Man was created from clay, and angels from light. Jinn are mortal, but can live for hundreds of years. The genie must eat, it tends to get close to people and even marry people. Among the supernatural abilities that the genies possessed were gaining invisibility, turning into an animal, a plant, or another person.
Jinns are usually divided into good and evil. The first accepted Islam, remaining submissive to Allah. The evil ones turned out to be infidels, but both types of jinn are dangerous to humans. The greatest threat was posed by the marids and ifrits, thirsty for blood. The Arabs believed (some believe even now) that ghouls - huge werewolf-cannibals - were introduced into cemeteries.
Jinns accompanied man throughout his life, so people always warned each other about the danger of encountering them. For protection, the Muslim turned to Allah to warn against attacks by demons. Protective amulets were often used; one of the most popular was the “Palm of Fatima,” which was a copper palm with a blue bead.
Fatima was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and the amulet named after her, according to Arab belief, was supposed to protect against the evil eye.
It was the evil eye that was considered the most terrible phenomenon. The source of the evil eye could be flattering speech or the rudeness of the interlocutor.
Fear of the evil eye affected lifestyle Arabs. This is manifested in clothing and the desire to preserve family secrets.
Arabs perceive dreams as a unique phenomenon. The first dream book dates back to the 11th century. The Koran says that it is forbidden to lie about dreams, so inventing and conjecturing a dream was prohibited. It was allowed to tell fortunes by turning to the elders, who could “read” the dream. Much attention was paid to fortune telling, primarily focusing on birds. It was not worth getting involved in fortune-telling rituals, as this could lead to magic. It was believed that white magic was the lot of a pious man. She was favored by angels, good genies. An inexperienced person could quickly come to black magic, capable of realizing secret and dark desires. The evil magician was helped by the devils, who brought trouble, not only on those around him, but also on himself. These features of the worldview appeared in pre-Islamic times, and they have survived to this day.
Life
- Fundamentals of morality, culture, public life set out in Shariah. The formation of Sharia instructions took place in the 7th century. Sharia obliges every Muslim to fast, read prayers, and perform rituals. It was prescribed to perform charity;
- Eating food, sleeping daily, and getting married are not encouraged in any way, but they are not prohibited either. Shariah does not approve of enjoying earthly life, for example, eating food. The consumption of wine, pork, gambling, witchcraft and usury were prohibited. Sharia has long been strictly observed, with the exception of the consumption of wine, which the townspeople loved very much. Villagers tried to strictly observe the norms;
- Marriage is considered one of major events in the life of every person. Divorce, inheritance, and other issues related to marriage are created on the basis of the traditions of pre-Islamic society and the teachings of the Koran. The significance of the birth of a son was incredibly great - it was believed that only after the birth of a boy does a man become a full-fledged person. The Koran ordered to cultivate in sons valor, the ability to answer for a word, kindness and generosity;
- Islam encourages the freeing of a slave. A Muslim who freed a person from slavery became pious. However, such an act was rarely performed, because the merchants relied entirely on the slave trade.
Character
- Men of the same age can pat each other on the knee or shoulder.
- Elders must certainly be respected.
- Men and women try to communicate with each other, avoiding contact with people of the opposite sex.
- Traditionally, during meals, men and women sit at different tables.
- Showing feelings in public is considered indecent, even among spouses.
- The greeting for men is to imitate kisses three times when their cheeks touch.
- Fraternal relations between men are widespread: in Arab countries you can often see men walking holding hands with each other, sometimes they walk in groups of three with their arms around each other's waists.
- Bows are outdated, but when meeting a guest of particularly important status, you need to kiss him on the shoulder.
- Older people sometimes imitate kissing hands.
National Costume
Traditional national costume Arabs wear the kandura dress. This dress is worn by men. In the summer, clothes are invariably white; in winter, they wear a beige or, less often, light green kandura. They wear a hafiya on their head, which is a small cap. The scarf we all know is called gutra. It can be white or red checkered. If a man is going to a holiday, such as a wedding, he will wear a special bisht cape. Arab men also like to wear a kerkusha, which is a small tassel. The dress is not worn on a naked body - underneath there is always a shirt with a wuzar belt.
Women also wear kanduras, although with more long sleeves. Sirval pants are worn on the legs, and an abaya is worn over the dress. There are several options for headwear, the most popular being the hijab and diswa. The latter covers the face and head completely. In rare cases, a mask called a burqa can be seen covering the lips, nose and part of the forehead. Modern options suits may include real ties or fitted jackets. The Arabs are watching fashion trends and often wear clothes from fashionable couturiers.
Traditions
In fact, the Arabs have hundreds of customs. All of them are prescribed by the Koran, although some were born in the pre-Islamic era. Here are a few that have survived to this day:
- Food is taken while sitting on the floor. Mattresses are rarely laid; carpets are usually used. Need to eat right hand, and with the left you can wipe your mouth with a napkin. Cutlery is not used; they are replaced with flatbreads, which are folded in the form of a scoop. After the meal, incense is applied to clothing or skin. Hands are washed with rose water.
- The woman is assigned the role of keeper of the hearth. She cannot cook or clean. The husband is obliged to support her and give her gifts. In fact, such a tradition often has to be broken, because not all Arabs have sufficient wealth. Therefore, in simple Arab families, children help the mother around the house.
- Prayers are performed five times every day.
- During Ramadan it is necessary to observe fasting, prohibiting daytime smoking, drinking alcohol and even eating.
- The Bedouins have a thousand-year-old custom that orders them to receive a guest who “knocks on the tent.” A Bedouin invites a stranger by handing him a cup of bitter tea, symbolizing a hectic life. The life of a Bedouin is sweet, so the bitter is followed by a cup of sweet tea. The guest can spend 3 days and 3 nights with the Bedouin, then he must tell him why he came. Some people simply enjoy the Bedouin hospitality, but there are also those who flee the authorities. The Bedouin can help or refuse.
- Families in Arab countries are divided into clans. Traditionally, the number of children in one family can reach 5–8.
- Arabs actively develop the most talented boys. Maximum one or two. The rest must find their place in life themselves, but can always count on the help of relatives.
- There is a special day for women when fitness centers, beaches, water parks and others public places open only to them.
You can talk about Arabs for a very long time. This is a truly great nation that has influenced the development of science and art throughout the world. They not only made significant contributions to the history of mankind, but also continue to share their experiences and cultural traditions. IN last decades The moral character of the Arabs became less strict. Many young people are willing to meet foreigners, take advantage of the achievements of modern civilization, and study foreign languages and often study in European countries. Preservation of foundations, adherence to religion and the teachings of the Koran can be called the main features of the Arab people. At the same time, Arabs are open-hearted people who love life very much, which is evident in their speech, literature and everyday life.
Belly dancing will help you understand all the magic and luxury of Arab culture. In this video you can watch a demonstration of the enchanting dance technique, which has been around for many centuries.
Many Europeans believe that Arabs are all dark-skinned, black-haired and black-eyed. They also think that Arab girls are fat, they have curly hair. none of this is true.
The majority of the population of Arab countries are similar to Europeans, only with an oriental twist.
In fact, arabs come in all shapes and colors (Arabs come in all shapes and sizes). Because the Middle East is a place of mixing of three races: European, Asian and African. By the way, American anthropologists distinguish the middle-eastern (Middle East) as a separate race, combining the features of several.
If we describe the Arab appearance, then it is very diverse: the skin ranges from milky white (Syria, Lebanon, Algeria) to chocolate (Mauritania, Sudan). However, the most common are beige and olive. Arabian eyes - " business card"of the people. Although there are several other nationalities with the same eye shape. Arabs, as a rule, have large almond-shaped eyes, the outer corner is higher than the inner one. The eyes are not as protruding as those of purebred Jews or Ethiopian Amharas. (However, some residents have a similar eye shape Transcaucasia, Indo-Iranians, Africans and and Southern and East Slavs). Arabs have very different eye colors. from bright sky blue to black. However, dark brown and mixed greenish eyes are the most common. Arabs also have hair ranging from dark blond (what is called “light brown” in Russia) to black. hair can be curly, wavy and straight. The face of Arabs, as a rule, is oval, but in some regions it is slightly elongated (the population of Egypt and Sudan), and the figure is average. Arabic female figure resembles a guitar (think Shakira). In general, they tend to be overweight, but not excessively. Well built. Sometimes there are skinny girls. In general, women are lighter than men.
Now let's go by region:
Khalij (Gulf Countries)
Olive and beige skin, black and black-brown hair, brown eyes. Sometimes quite dark, chocolate skin is found.
Cham (Levant)
Beige and olive skin. Sometimes there is a white one. Eyes are brown, hazel, green-brown, gray-green and bright blue. Hair of all shades of brown. From light brown to black-brown. Sometimes there are blondes. In general, the people of Lebanon and Syria are the fairest in the region, the people of Iraq are the darkest (with dark hair and eyes).
North Africa
The most diverse region. White, beige, olive and chocolate skin. Eyes - black, brown, gray, green, blue, mixed. Hair - from dark blond to black. The darkest ones are the inhabitants of Sudan (northern Sudan - Africans live in the south, not Arabs), Southern Egypt, Mauritania, Southern Algeria. They have brown skin (golden brown to chocolate), brown or black eyes, and black hair. Then come the Libyans - black-haired, dark-eyed, but with beige or light olive skin. The fairest are the inhabitants of Northern Algeria, among whom there are green-eyed blonds. In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, brown and black hair, beige and light olive skin, brown and greenish-mixed eyes are common.
These are the diverse inhabitants of Arab countries.
Group of peoples. The Arab world consists of 20 countries in North Africa and the Middle East with populations about 430 million people. Language Arabic (Semitic language group), suppressing religion - Islam.
A complicated Arab history
The history of the Arab world is so multifaceted and intricate that historians still express their versions.
Arabs are mentioned for the first time ancient sources- Assyrian and Babylonian chronicles. The Bible also says a lot about the Arab people. The pages of the Holy Scriptures report the appearance in Palestine of tribes of shepherds from the southern oases. These tribes became known as the Ibri, which meant “those who crossed the river.” Arabs consider Arabia their homeland. The island of the Arabs - Jazirat al-Arab - is washed by the Red Sea and the Aden, Persian, and Ottoman gulfs. However, if a dispute arises among historians about the origin of the Arabs, it is still difficult for them to indicate a specific place. For this reason, the history of the origin of the Arabs is presented in the form of several territorial zones:
1. The oldest Arabian region, which does not coincide with the borders of the modern peninsula. This zone includes eastern Syria and Jordan.
2. Territory of Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan.
3. Iraq, Egypt, Libya, North Sudan.
4. Mauritanian zone (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Western Sahara).
Arab occupations
Among Arabs, according to type of employment, they distinguish nomads, farmers And townspeople. The nomads of central and northern Arabia raised sheep, cattle and camels. The nomadic tribes of the Arabs were not isolated; they were located mainly surrounded by economically developed areas. Arab farmers work tirelessly on their lands, since a good harvest will feed the family and allow them to stock up. Grains, fruits, vegetables and even cotton are grown on southern plantations. A typical urban way of life reigns in Sanaa, Cairo, and Beirut. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are luxurious cities where tourists strive to get to to enjoy the splendor of the Arab state. Arabs work in factories, drive cars to do their business, and their children go to school. Ordinary city residents. The whole world knows about the tragic events in Aleppo, Syria. Here, the once flourishing city has been turned into a pile of stones and ruins.
Arab culture
Arab culture reached its peak in the period from the 8th to the 11th centuries. The Arabs became the founders of mathematics, medicine, architecture, philosophy and poetry. Ibn Al-Haytham devoted his life to the exact sciences: mathematics, astronomy, physics and optics. He illuminated the building for the first time human eye. The Arab scientist Muhammad ibn Ahmed al-Biruni became famous in astronomy. The medical encyclopedia was provided to the world by the author of the monograph “The Canon of Medicine,” the famous Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Famous fairy tales"A Thousand and One Nights" are known throughout the world.
Customs and traditions of Arabs in the modern world
Arabs honor their traditions. A man, when meeting a woman, is always the first to engage in conversation. The greeting of two men goes like this: both touch their cheeks to each other, and then clap one another on the back. They treat time slowly not only in everyday life, but also in business meetings. A philosophical attitude to life underlies this type of behavior. Arabs do not tolerate fuss, spontaneity, running around and hassle. However, they make their decisions thoughtfully, following a pre-planned system. A calm, cool attitude towards what is happening does not mean that the Arab has the same temperament. The freedom-loving great-grandson of warring ancestors, he can instantly become enraged and become a daring opponent. It is not for nothing that Arab revenge is called blood revenge. To protect their violated honor or loved ones, the Arabs are not afraid to grab weapons and enter into battle. Honor for an Arab is sacred!
Arab family life
You will feel quite comfortable when visiting an Arab family. The owner will greet you with cordiality, seat you at the table and offer you aromatic coffee. In the Muslim world, it is customary to treat your interlocutor with respect and try to make his stay in someone else’s home as comfortable as possible. The family in the Arab world is the first life value. The family includes a large number of relatives, in addition to spouses and their heirs. The power of a man in a family is undeniable; he is a protector, a breadwinner, a master.
A people is a group of people united by certain characteristics; there are more than 300 of them on Earth. There are numerous ones, for example the Chinese, and there are also small ones, for example, the Ginukh people, whose representation does not even reach 450 people.
The Arab people are the second largest group of people in the world, approximately 400 million people. Inhabited by the states of the Middle East and North Africa, but also in Lately they actively emigrate to Europe due to wars and political conflicts. So what kind of people are they, what is their history, and are there countries where Arabs live?
Where did the Arab people come from?
The predecessors of the Arabs are the wild tribes of Africa and the Middle East. In general, the first mentions of them were found in various Babylonian writings. More specific instructions are found in the Bible. It is in it that in the 14th century BC. e. in Transjordan, and then in Palestine, the first pastoral tribes from the Arabian oases appeared. Of course, this is a rather controversial version, but in any case, scientists agree that it was in Arabia that this people originated, and from there the history of the Arabs began.
The vast majority of Arabs are Muslim (90%), and the remainder are Christian. In the 7th century, a previously unknown merchant Muhammad began to preach a new religion. After several years, the prophet created a community, and later a state - the Caliphate. This country began to rapidly expand its borders, and literally a hundred years later it stretched from Spain through North Africa and southwest Asia to the borders of India. Due to the fact that the Caliphate had a huge territory, the state language was actively spreading in the lands under its control, due to which the local population transferred to the culture and customs of the Arabs.
The widespread spread of Islam allowed the Caliphates to establish close contact with Christians, Jews, etc., which contributed to the formation of one of the greatest civilizations in the world. During its existence, many great works of art were created, and there was a rapid rise in science, including astronomy, medicine, geography and mathematics. But in the 10th century, the fall of the Caliphate (the state of the Arabs) began due to wars with the Mongols and Turks.
By the 16th century, Turkish subjects had conquered all Arab world, and this continued until the 19th century, when the British and French already dominated the territory of North Africa. It was only after World War II that the entire people, except the Palestinians, gained independence. They received freedom only towards the end of the 20th century.
We will look later at where the Arabs live today, but for now it is worth dwelling on the linguistic and cultural characteristics of this people.
Language and culture
Arabic, the official language of all countries in which this group of people lives, belongs to the Afroasiatic family. About 250 million people speak it, and another 50 million people use it as a second language. The writing is based on the Arabic alphabet, which has changed slightly over its history. long history. The language was constantly transformed. Arabic is now written from right to left and has no capital letters.
Along with the development of the people, culture also developed. It reached its peak during the Caliphate period. It is noteworthy that the Arabs based their culture on the basis of Roman, Egyptian, Chinese and others, and in general these people took a big step in the development of universal civilization. Studying the language and heritage will help you understand who the Arabs are and what their values are.
Science and literature
Arab science developed on the basis of ancient Greek, mostly in military affairs, since vast territories could not be captured and defended only with the help of human resources. At the same time, various schools were opened. Scientific centers also emerge due to the development of natural sciences. Great success have been achieved in historical and geographical areas of research. Mathematics, medicine and astronomy received a big leap in development in the Caliphate.
Main literary work Arab world is the Koran. It is written in prose and serves as the basis of the religion of Islam. However, even before the appearance of this religious book, great written masterpieces were created. Mostly Arabs composed poetry. The themes varied, such as self-praise, love and depiction of nature. In the Caliphate, such world works were written that are popular to this day, these are: “A Thousand and One Nights”, “Maqamat”, “The Message of Forgiveness” and “The Book of Misers”.
Arabic architecture
Many pieces of art were created by the Arabs. On initial stage The influence of Roman and Byzantine traditions was felt, but over time their architecture takes on its own unique look. By the 10th century, a unique type of columnar mosque was created with a rectangular courtyard in the center, surrounded by numerous halls and galleries with graceful arcades. This type includes the Amir Mosque in Cairo, where Arabs have lived for many hundreds of years.
From the 12th century, various letter and floral patterns began to gain popularity, which were used to decorate buildings both outside and inside. From the 13th century domes appeared. In the 15th century, the basis for the decoration of buildings was the Moorish style, an example of this direction is the Alhambra Castle in Granada. After the Turks conquered the Arab Caliphate, the architecture acquired Byzantine features, which affected the Mohammed Mosque in Cairo.
The status of women and religion in the Arab world
It is impossible to answer the question: who are the Arabs without studying the position of women in their world. Up until the mid-20th century, girls were at the lowest level in society. They did not have the right to vote, one might say, they were not considered people, but what is interesting is that the attitude towards mothers was always respectful. Now, especially in major cities, attitudes towards women have changed. Now they can attend schools, higher education educational establishments and even occupy high political and government positions. Polygamy, which is permitted in Islam, is not rapidly disappearing. It is rare now to meet a man who has more than two wives.
As for religion, of course, mostly Arabs profess Islam, about 90 percent. Also a small part are adherents of Christianity, most of them Protestants and a small part of Orthodox Christians. In ancient times, this people, like most ancient tribes, worshiped the stars, the sun and the sky. They revered and paid tribute to the most famous and influential ancestors. Only in the 7th century, when Muhammad began to preach, did the Arabs actively begin to convert to Islam, and are now generally considered Muslims.
Countries of the Arab world
There are quite a large number of states in the world where Arab people live. Countries in which the overwhelming majority of the population are of this nationality can be considered their original ones. For them, their place of residence is mostly in Asian countries. Largest Arab representation in the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia. Of course, Arabs still live in Africa and European countries.
Arab emigration
Throughout history, this nationality has moved throughout the world, much of it associated with the great civilization of the Caliphate. Now there is a much more active emigration of Arabs from Africa and the Middle East to Europe and America due to the unstable and threatening situation that has arisen as a result of military and political conflicts. Currently, Arab immigrants are common in the following territories: France, USA, Germany, Italy, Austria, etc. In Russia, this moment Home to about 10 thousand migrants, this is one of the smallest representative offices.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE is a famous, influential and successful Arab state. This is a country in the Middle East, which is divided, in turn, into 7 emirates. The UAE is one of the most modern, advanced and wealthy countries in the world and is considered a leading oil exporter. It is thanks to this natural reserve, The Emirates is developing so quickly. Only in the 1970s did the country gain independence, and for this a short time reached great heights. The most famous cities The UAE is Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country, and Dubai.
Tourism in Dubai
Now United United Arab Emirates attract tourists from all over the world, but, of course, the center of attraction is Dubai.
This city has everything: any vacationer can satisfy his desires, even ski lovers will find a place here. The best beaches, shops and entertainment centers. The most famous object not only in Dubai, but throughout the UAE, is the Burj Khalifa. This is the tallest building in the world, reaching a height of 830 meters. Inside this massive structure are retail spaces, offices, apartments, hotels and much more.
The largest water park in the world is also located in Dubai. Thousands of different specimens of animals and fish live here. Entering the aquarium, you are immersed in the world of a fairy tale, you feel like an inhabitant of the sea world.
In this city, everything is always the largest and biggest. The largest and most beautiful artificial archipelago “Mir” is located here. The outlines of the island copy the contours of our planet. The views from the top are magnificent, so it's worth taking a helicopter tour.
In summary, the Arab world is a fascinating history, culture and modern look life. Everyone should get acquainted with the peculiarities of this people, go to the states where Arabs live for recreation and entertainment, because this is an amazing and unique phenomenon on planet Earth.
