Where did the Arabs come from? List of Arabic-speaking countries with GDP

Ow, pl. arabes pl. 1. Semitic people ethno-linguistic group. BAS 2. We took the science of rhyming from the Arapov. East rum. 69. I decided to call myself not a European, but a Baghdad Arab. Pant. in. sl. 2 255. This respect is not only for women ... ... Historical dictionary gallicisms of the Russian language

Modern Encyclopedia

- (self-name al Arab) a group of peoples (Algerians, Egyptians, Moroccans, etc.), the main population of the Arab countries Zap. Asia and North. Africa. The total number of St. 199 million people (1992). Arabic language. Most Muslims... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

ARABS, Arabs, unit. arab, arab, male The people of Arabia. Dictionary Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

ARAB, ov, units arab, a, husband. The peoples inhabiting Western Asia and North Africa, the Crimea includes Algerians, Egyptians, Yemenis, Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinians, etc. | female arab, i. | adj. Arabic, oh, oh. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, ... ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

Arabs- (self-name al Arab) a group of peoples with a total number of 199,000 thousand people. Settlement regions: Africa 125200 thousand people, Asia 70000 thousand people, Europe 2500 thousand people, America 1200 thousand people, Australia and Oceania 100 thousand people. Main countries ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Ov; pl. An extensive group of peoples inhabiting the countries of Southwest Asia in the Persian Gulf and North Africa; representatives of these peoples. ◁ Arab, a; m. Arabka, and; pl. genus. side, dat. bcam; and. * * * Arabs (self-name al Arab), a group ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Arabs Ethnopsychological dictionary

ARAB- representatives of twenty-two states of the Near and Middle East, having common ethnic roots and similar psychology. Arabs are cheerful, cheerful and cheerful people, distinguished by observation, ingenuity, friendliness. However… Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy

Arabs- Africa (self-name al Arab), a group of peoples. They make up the majority of the population of Egypt (Egyptian Arabs), Sudan (Sudanese Arabs), Libya (Libyan Arabs), Tunisia (Tunisian Arabs), Algeria (Algerian Arabs), Morocco (Moroccan Arabs) ... Encyclopedic reference book "Africa"

Books

• Arabs, . Reproduced in the original author's spelling of the 1897 edition (publishing house ʻpublishing the Bookstore of P.V. Lukovnikov`). IN…
• Arabs, . This book will be produced in accordance with your order using Print-on-Demand technology. Reproduced in the original author's spelling of the 1897 edition (publishing house "Edition of the Book ...

Olga Bibikova

From the book "Arabs". Historical and ethnographic essays»

Trying to give a comprehensive portrait of the people is not an easy task. It becomes triple complicated when the subject of study is the Arabs, whose history developed in a territory that has long been inhabited. various nations. We can judge the existence of some of them only according to archeological data. Here, in the Middle East, over a long period, states appeared and disappeared, and here the main religions of the world arose. Naturally, the dynamic history of the region had an impact on the historical appearance of the Arabs, their traditions and culture. Today in the Middle East and North Africa there are 19 states where Arabs live. Ethnic processes in these countries are particularly complex and have not yet been completed.

The first mention of the Arabs (or those who are identified with them) scientists found in the Assyrian and Babylonian chronicles. More specific instructions are found in the Bible. It is the biblical historical traditions report the appearance in the XIV century BC. in Transjordan, and then in Palestine, Aramaic pastoral tribes from the southern Arabian oases. Initially, these tribes were designated as ‘ibri, that is, “cross-river” or “passed over the river”. Scientists have found that we are talking about the Euphrates and, consequently, the tribes that came out of Arabia, first moved north into Mesopotamia, and then turned south. It is curious that it is the word “‘ibri” that is identified with the name of Abraham (or the name of his legendary ancestor Eber), the biblical patriarch, from whom Jews and Arabs descend. Naturally, the question of the reliability of this plot continues to cause controversy among historians of antiquity. Archaeologist L. Woolley, conducting excavations in the city of Ur, even made an attempt to find the house of Abraham. Let me remind you that biblical traditions, written down after no less than 12-15 unwritten generations, became a means of later ideological struggle. The probability that Abraham (descending, even according to biblical data, twenty generations from the time of recording the traditions about him) is historical figure, is close to zero.

Homeland of the Arabs

The Arabs call Arabia their homeland - Jazirat al-Arab, that is, the “Island of the Arabs”. Indeed, from the west, the Arabian Peninsula is washed by the waters of the Red Sea, from the south - by the Gulf of Aden, from the east - by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The rugged Syrian Desert stretches to the north. Naturally, with such geographical location the ancient Arabs felt isolated, that is, "living on an island."

Speaking about the origin of the Arabs, they usually single out historical and ethnographic areas that have their own characteristics. The allocation of these areas is based on the specifics of the socio-economic, cultural and ethnic development. The Arabian historical and ethnographic region is considered to be the cradle of the Arab world, the borders of which by no means coincide with the modern states of the Arabian Peninsula. This includes, for example, the eastern regions of Syria and Jordan. The second historical and ethnographic zone (or region) includes the rest of Syria, Jordan, as well as Lebanon and Palestine. Iraq is considered a separate historical and ethnographic zone. Egypt, Northern Sudan and Libya are united into one zone. And finally, the Maghrebino-Mauritanian zone, which includes the countries of the Maghreb - Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, as well as Mauritania and Western Sahara. This division is by no means universally recognized, since the border regions, as a rule, have features characteristic of both neighboring zones.

Economic activity

The agricultural culture of Arabia developed quite early, although only some parts of the peninsula were suitable for land use. These are, first of all, those territories on which the state of Yemen is now located, as well as some parts of the coast and oases. St. Petersburg orientalist O. Bolshakov believes that "in terms of the intensity of agriculture, Yemen can be put on a par with such ancient civilizations as Mesopotamia and Egypt." The physical and geographical conditions of Arabia predetermined the division of the population into two groups - settled farmers and nomadic pastoralists. There was no clear division of the inhabitants of Arabia into settled and nomads, because there were various types of mixed economy, relations between which were maintained not only through the exchange of goods, but also through family ties.

In the last quarter of the II millennium BC. the cattle breeders of the Syrian desert had a domesticated dromedary camel (dromedary). The number of camels was still small, but this already allowed part of the tribes to move on to a truly nomadic way of life. This circumstance forced pastoralists to lead a more mobile lifestyle and make many kilometers of transitions to remote areas, for example, from Syria to Mesopotamia, directly through the desert.

First state formations

On the territory of modern Yemen, several states arose, which in the 4th century AD. were united by one of them - the Himyarite kingdom. The South Arabian society of antiquity is characterized by the same features that are inherent in other societies. ancient east: the slave-owning system was born here, on which the wealth of the ruling class was based. The state carried out the construction and repair of large irrigation systems, without which it was impossible to develop agriculture. The population of cities was mainly represented by artisans who skillfully made high-quality products, including agricultural implements, weapons, household utensils, leather products, fabrics, decorations from sea shells. Gold was mined in Yemen, and fragrant resins were also collected, including frankincense, myrrh. Later, the interest of Christians in this product constantly stimulated transit trade, due to which the interchange of goods between the Arabian Arabs and the population of the Christian regions of the Middle East expanded.

With the conquest of the Himyarite kingdom at the end of the 6th century by Sasanian Iran, horses appeared in Arabia. It was during this period that the state fell into decline, which affected primarily the urban population.

As for the nomads, such collisions affected them to a lesser extent. The life of the nomads was determined by the tribal structure, where there were dominant and subordinate tribes. Within the tribe, relations were regulated depending on the degree of kinship. The material existence of the tribe depended solely on the harvest in the oases, where there were cultivated plots of land and wells, as well as on the offspring of the herds. The main factor influencing the patriarchal life of nomads, in addition to attacks by unfriendly tribes, were natural disasters- drought, epidemics and earthquakes, which are mentioned by Arab legends.

The nomads of central and northern Arabia have long been raising sheep, cattle, and camels. Characteristically, the nomadic world of Arabia was surrounded by economically more developed regions, so there is no need to talk about the cultural isolation of Arabia. In particular, this is evidenced by the excavation data. For example, in the construction of dams and reservoirs, the inhabitants of southern Arabia used cement mortar, which was invented in Syria around 1200 BC. The presence of links that existed between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coast and southern Arabia as early as the 10th century BC confirms the story of the trip of the ruler of Saba (“Queen of Sheba”) to King Solomon.

Advance of Semites from Arabia

Approximately at III millennium BC. Arabian Semites began to settle in Mesopotamia and Syria. Already from the middle of the 1st millennium BC. began an intensive movement of Arabs outside the "Jazirat al-Arab". However, those Arabian tribes that appeared in Mesopotamia in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC were soon assimilated by the Akkadians living there. Later, in the XIII century BC, a new advancement of the Semitic tribes began, who spoke Aramaic dialects. Already in the 7th-6th centuries BC. Aramaic becomes the spoken language of Syria, replacing Akkadian.

As we have already noted, there are quite detailed archaeological data, as well as historical legends, about the advancement of pastoral tribes moving from the trans-Jordanian steppes. However, they were recorded 400-500 years later. It is generally accepted that the biblical stories about the patriarchs are a reflection of the Semitic nomadic tales, which are based on traditionally memorized genealogies. Naturally, the legends about real events interspersed with folklore legends, which reflects the ideological situation at the time of the recording of ancient legends. Thus, the legend of the sacrifice of Abraham has its own version in the Bible and, somewhat different from it, in the Koran. However, the common origin of both peoples - Israelis and Arabs - can be traced both in language, religious traditions, and in customs.

Back to top new era significant masses of Arabs moved to Mesopotamia, settled in southern Palestine and the Sinai Peninsula. Some tribes even managed to create state formations. So, the Nabataeans founded their kingdom on the border of Arabia and Palestine, which lasted until the 2nd century AD. Along the lower reaches of the Euphrates, the Lakhmid state arose, but its rulers were forced to recognize vassal dependence on the Persian Sassanids. The Arabs who settled in Syria, Transjordan and southern Palestine united in the 6th century under the rule of representatives of the Ghassanid tribe. They also had to recognize themselves as vassals of the stronger Byzantium. It is characteristic that both the Lakhmid state (in 602) and the Ghassanid state (in 582) were destroyed by their own overlords, who feared the strengthening and growing independence of their vassals. Nevertheless, the presence of Arab tribes in the Syrian-Palestinian region was a factor that subsequently contributed to softening the new, more massive invasion of the Arabs. Then they began to penetrate into Egypt. Thus, the city of Koptos in Upper Egypt, even before the Muslim conquest, was half inhabited by Arabs.

Naturally, the newcomers quickly joined the local customs. Caravan trade allowed them to maintain ties with kindred tribes and clans within the Arabian Peninsula, which gradually contributed to the convergence of urban and nomadic cultures.

Prerequisites for the unification of the Arabs

In the tribes living near the borders of Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia, the process of decomposition of primitive communal relations developed faster than among the population of the interior regions of Arabia. In the 5th-7th centuries, there was an underdevelopment internal organization tribes, which, in combination with the remnants of the maternal account and polyandry, testified that, due to the specifics of the nomadic economy, the decomposition of the tribal system in Central and Northern Arabia developed more slowly than in neighboring regions of Western Asia.

Periodically, kindred tribes united in unions. Sometimes there was a fragmentation of tribes or their absorption by strong tribes. Over time, it became obvious that large formations are more viable. It was in tribal unions or confederations of tribes that the preconditions for the emergence of a class society began to take shape. The process of its formation was accompanied by the creation of primitive state formations. As early as the 2nd-6th centuries, large-scale tribal unions(Mazhij, Kinda, Maad, etc.), but none of them could become the core of a single pan-Arab state. The prerequisite for the political unification of Arabia was the desire of the tribal elite to secure the right to land, livestock and income from caravan trade. An additional factor was the need to join forces to resist external expansion. As we have already pointed out, at the turn of the 6th-7th centuries, the Persians captured Yemen and liquidated the Lakhmid state, which was in vassal dependence. As a result, in the south and north, Arabia was under the threat of absorption by the Persian state. Naturally, the situation had a negative impact on Arabian trade. The merchants of a number of Arabian cities suffered significant material damage. The only way out of this situation could be the unification of kindred tribes.

The Hejaz region, located in the west of the Arabian Peninsula, became the center of the unification of the Arabs. This area has long been famous for its relatively developed agriculture, handicrafts, but most importantly - trade. The local cities - Mecca, Yasrib (later Medina), Taif - had strong contacts with the surrounding tribes of nomads who visited them, exchanging their goods for the products of urban artisans.

However, the religious situation prevented the unification of the Arabian tribes. The ancient Arabs were pagans. Each tribe revered its patron god, although some of them can be considered pan-Arab - Allah, al-Uzza, al-Lat. Even in the first centuries in Arabia it was known about Christianity. Moreover, in Yemen, these two religions have practically supplanted pagan cults. On the eve of the Persian conquest, Yemenite Jews fought with Yemenite Christians, while the Jews focused on Sasanian Persia (which subsequently facilitated the conquest of the Himyarite kingdom by the Persians), and the Christians on Byzantium. Under these conditions arose its own form of Arabian monotheism, which (especially in early stage) to a large extent, but in a peculiar way, reflected some of the postulates of Christianity. Its adherents, the Hanifs, became bearers of the idea of ​​a single god. In turn, this form of monotheism set the stage for the emergence of Islam.

The religious beliefs of the Arabs of the pre-Islamic period are a conglomeration of various beliefs, among which were female and male deities, the veneration of stones, springs, trees, various spirits, genies and shaitans, who were intermediaries between people and gods, was also widespread. Naturally, the absence of clear dogmatic ideas opened up wide opportunities for the ideas of more developed religions to penetrate into this amorphous worldview and contributed to religious and philosophical reflections.

By that time, writing began to become more and more widespread, which subsequently played a huge role in the formation of medieval Arab culture, and at the stage of the birth of Islam contributed to the accumulation and transmission of information. The need for this was colossal, as evidenced by the practice of oral memorization and reproduction of ancient genealogies, historical chronicles, poetic narratives, common among the Arabs.

As noted by the St. Petersburg scholar A. Khalidov, "most likely, the language was formed as a result of a long development based on the selection of different dialectal forms and their artistic comprehension" . In the end, it was the use of the same language of poetry that became one of the most important factors that contributed to the formation of the Arab community. Naturally, the process of assimilation Arabic did not happen all at once. This process took place most rapidly in those areas where the inhabitants spoke the related languages ​​of the Semitic group. In other areas, this process took several centuries, but a number of peoples, once under the rule of the Arab Caliphate, managed to maintain their linguistic independence.

Ethnic history of the Arabs

As we have already noted, the Arabs are the original inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. The lack of historical evidence of any major invasions of other ethnicities in historical time is indicative of a relatively homogeneous origin of the region's indigenous people. The ethnonym "Arab" itself is probably not a self-name. Most likely, this term was used by the inhabitants of Mesopotamia and Western Asia, calling people from Arabia like that. Subsequently, when the Arabian tribes began to unite under the rule of Muhammad and his successors, it was this term that was assigned to those who became part of the tribes united by his preaching. Thus, we are talking about a group of related tribes, for which not only the habitat was common, religious beliefs, but above all the language (Koine), which distinguished them from those who spoke Aramaic, Greek or Hebrew. Oral (poetic) literature was formed on the basis of this language already in the 4th-5th centuries. In general, the Arabs are part of a group of Semitic peoples, whose name is associated with the name of the biblical character Shem, one of the sons of Noah (Book of Genesis, 10).

The ethnogenesis of the inhabitants of modern Arab states has been poorly studied. The turbulent history of almost every Arab state is replete with facts of invasions and adaptations of various tribes and peoples. It can be said that the ethnogenesis of the Syrian does not coincide with the ethnogenesis of the Egyptian or the Moroccan. But we can talk about the basic substrates, which in ancient times became the basis for the formation of modern Arab peoples.

Anthropologists distinguish different anthropological types within the Arab community. This indicates that in the process of settlement, the Arabs absorbed and Arabized smaller or disappearing groups. Thus, with the greatest distribution of the Mediterranean anthropological type in Iraq and eastern Arabia, there is an Armenoid type, and in southern Arabia, an Ethiopian anthropological type. Naturally, in the border regions one can always detect the anthropological influence of the neighboring ethnic group.

To a large extent, the spread of Islam contributed to the formation of the pan-Arab ethnos. It should be noted that these two processes - Arabization and Islamization - did not develop synchronously. As a rule, Islamization was ahead of the process of Arabization (assimilation) of the conquered population. The fact is that for a number of peoples, the adoption of Islam meant recognition of the patronage of the Arabs. In addition, new converts became members of the ummah (community), which eased the tax burden. It can be said that it was Islam that became the common denominator for the peoples who subsequently made up the population of the Arab Caliphate.

However, the process of Arabization was carried out slowly. It is worth recalling that during the reign of Caliph Umar (632-644), the Arabs made up only a quarter of the population of the caliphate. Characteristically, the process of Arabization of its population took place in different ways in the Middle East and North Africa. The autochthonous population of the Middle East was mostly Semitic (Arameans, Phoenicians), so Arabization and Islamization took place more calmly here. Conquest campaigns also contributed to this, thanks to which cities and large settlements developed.

Most of the population of North Africa (for example, Egypt, where indigenous people- Copts, as well as Libyan and Berber tribes) belonged to the Hamitic group. Therefore, here the process of gradual assimilation of the local population by the Arab conquerors was the displacement of local dialects by the Arabic language. At the same time, Arab culture also conquered the territory.

The situation developed quite differently in those countries where there were few Arabs. The farther to the east, the less the influence of the Arabic language was felt, which did not interfere with the process of Islamization. However, here Islam acquired features characteristic only of this area. In this context, it is interesting to compare the elements of ethnic culture, especially since, despite the unifying Muslim influence, almost every region has its own cultural substratum.

As an example, let us cite the Iranian interpretation of the image of Ali, one of the main characters of early Islam. Here the image of Ali acquired features characteristic of ancient Persian cultural heroes and features of earlier deities. Ignatius Goldzier noted that in Persia "the attributes of the thunder god are associated with Ali." In Iran, the local cultural substratum turned out to be so powerful that Arabization was not successful here. One gets the impression that Islam was forced to submit to local cultural traditions, thanks to which its Shiite branch arose, competing with the original and mainstream Sunni. Nevertheless, attempts to transfer Shiism to the West (for example, during the reign of the Abbasids, who came to power relying on Shiites) failed, although various Shiite communities still exist in a number of countries.

Almost the entire history of the Arab Caliphate indicates that the process of Arabization was carried out naturally, because the rulers did not set themselves the task of total Arabization of the population. This was due to the economic policy pursued by the caliphs and governors of the provinces. The economic privileges set for converts gave advantages to converts and made Islam attractive to this part of the population.

It should be noted that from the very beginning, the Muslim administration did not interfere with the process of adapting the traditions of the conquered peoples. This was primarily due to the fact that the process of formation of the Arab state took place simultaneously with the transition of former nomads to settled way life. Yesterday's Bedouins were introduced to agriculture, and later to urban life. This circumstance had an impact on the formation of the Muslim worldview, as well as on the nature of religious ideology. At the same time, this predetermined the long and controversial process of the formation of the Arab nation.

An important (but little studied) factor was the conversion of part of the Christians, mainly the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coast of Europe, to Islam. The reason for the mass conversion to Islam F. Braudel calls the economic conditions and overpopulation of European territories. “A sign of the overpopulation of Mediterranean Europe since the end of the 15th century was the repeated persecution of Jews ... this is also evidenced by the numerous transitions from Christianity to the Islamic faith, which were of a balancing nature in a demographic sense” . In the 16th century, the process of voluntary conversion to Islam accelerated: "Christians in multitudes are flowing into Islam, which attracts them with the prospect of advancement and earnings - and their services are really paid." Moreover, Islam attracts Europeans with its tolerance for non-Christians. Here is what the French researcher Fernand Braudel wrote about this: “The Turks opened their doors, and the Christians locked theirs, perhaps acting unconsciously. Christian intolerance, the child of overcrowding, repels rather than attracts new adherents. All whom the Christians expel from their dominions—the Jews in 1492, the Moriscos in the sixteenth century and in 1609-1614—join the crowd of voluntary defectors to the side of Islam in search of work and jobs. Thus, cross-cultural contact between Islam and Christianity, European peoples and Arabs has a long history, in which there have been periods of ups and downs.

Naturally, Islamization was accompanied by the unification of religious life, and also had an impact on the formation of stereotypes of social life, as well as on the system of family and public relations, ethics, law, etc. all denominations living in the Muslim world.

Being under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and subsequently under the yoke of the colonial domination of European powers, the population of the Arab countries felt like a single community. It was in the last quarter of the 19th century that the slogans of pan-Arab unity became relevant, on the wave of which public organizations who rocked the colonial regime. In an attempt to strengthen its power, the colonial administration sought to rely on the local Christian population, attracting its representatives to the government apparatus. Subsequently, this circumstance became the cause of mistrust between the Christian and Muslim populations, and also provoked a number of conflicts.

By the middle of the 20th century, the process of becoming politically independent states, in which the main place was occupied by the national elite, representing the interests of the most powerful tribal clans. Naturally, at this stage, representatives of the most educated ethnic groups and clans received an advantage, regardless of specific gravity ethnic group in this society.

Thus, the Arabs, the Arabic language, Arab culture and Arab statehood have played a significant role in the formation of that common area, which we conventionally call the "Arab world" today. This world arose and was formed during the conquests of the Arabs and under the influence of Islam in the Middle Ages. Over the subsequent time, in the space from Iran to the Atlantic Ocean, the basic principles and norms of being, forms of relations and hierarchy were formed and developed. cultural property, which arose under the influence of the Muslim religion and the Arab cultural traditions closely related to it.

Usually Muslims paid tithe as a tax, while the non-Muslim population paid kharaj, the size of which ranged from one to two thirds of the crop. In addition, Muslims were exempted from paying the jizya, the poll tax. In trade, Muslims paid a duty of 2.5%, and non-Muslims - 5%.

Braudel F. The Mediterranean Sea and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip I. M., 2003. Part 2, p. 88.

Braudel F. The Mediterranean Sea and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II. M., 2003. Part 2, p. 641.

The first hoax is the origin of the Arabs. Today, the Arabs believe that they are the descendants of Abram (Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Abraham) through his eldest son Ismail (Ismael), which allows them to inscribe themselves in sacred history.

They claim that the Kaaba temple in Mecca was built by Adam, repaired by his son Seth, and rebuilt by Abram (Ibrahim). The Prophet Muhammad even accused the Arabs of turning the place that was originally intended for a mosque into a pagan temple: by the time of the Prophet Muhammad, there were 360 ​​idols around the Kaaba in Mecca!

This story is very confusing. I didn't want to go back to the Bible. I hoped that in the future I would manage without her texts. But the heavily promoted materials of Islamist "researchers" require proof of the improbability of their hoaxes. And so we start with the biblical version of the story.

The flood brought the ark to Ararat. When the water began to recede and the dove did not return, Noah and his three sons came out of the ark: Ham, Shem and Japheth. “From them the nations spread over the earth after the flood.” The offspring of the children and grandchildren of Japheth settled the surrounding lands. The descendants of Ham settled the lands south to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The Bible mentions the kingdoms of Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Haliya in the land of Shinar, as well as the tribes of the Philistines, Canaanites, Jebusites, Amorites: “And there were the limits of the Canaanites from Sidon to Gerar to Gaza, from here to Sodom, Gomorrah, Adme and Zeboim to Lasha” - is the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula to mediterranean sea and Sinai.

According to the Bible, Eber, a descendant of Shem, had two sons in the third generation: Joktan and Peleg. The descendants of Joktan and his 13 sons settled the areas "from Mesha to Sephar, the eastern mountain" (Genesis 10:30). Mesha is known as Mecca, and these spaces are the Arabian Peninsula (Arabian): from the Red Sea and Sinai in the west to the Persian Gulf in the east, from Syria and Iraq in the north to the Arabian Sea (Indian Ocean) in the south. A vast territory, more than two million square kilometers of desert, barren land almost waterless and devoid of vegetation. This land is designated by the word "Arab". At the dawn of history, this word was called the Arabian Peninsula and the peoples inhabiting it.

The branch of the descendants of Shem through Eber and Peleg leads us through 4 generations to Ur of the Chaldees to the house of Terah to his son Abram. Then it was in issue #8. Yes, Arabs and Jews have common origin. But the ancestor of the Arabs is the son of Eber Joktan, and not Abram (Ibrahim, Abraham), as it was presented at the dawn of Islam by the Prophet and his followers. They have no evidence, especially since (according to the Bible) Abram was a Jew, not an Arab (!), a monotheist (not a pagan). Arab monotheism (Islam) appeared millennia later. The first-born of Abram - Ibrahim, born to the servant of Sarah, the Egyptian Hagar (Hajar, Keturah), also could not be an Arab or their progenitor. Since the pagan Arabs for 2.5 millennia BC. already lived in the Arabian Peninsula. He could not be a pagan like the son of Abraham, much less a Muslim, since Islam appeared thousands of years later.

A people is a group of people united by some specific characteristics, there are more than 300 of them on Earth. There are numerous, for example, Chinese, and there are also small ones, for example, Ginukh, whose representation does not even reach 450 people.

The Arab people are the second largest group of people in the world, with about 400 million people. They inhabit the states of the Middle East and North Africa, but also recently they have been actively emigrating 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 forerunners of the Arabs are the wild tribes of Africa and the Middle East. In general, the first mention of them was found in various Babylonian writings. More specific instructions are written in the Bible. It is in it that it is said that in the 14th century BC. e. in Transjordan, and then in Palestine, the first shepherd tribes from the Arabian oases appear. Of course it's enough 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 profess Islam (90%), and the rest are Christians. In the 7th century, a previously unknown merchant Mohammed 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 southwestern Asia to the borders of India. Due to the fact that the Caliphate had a vast territory, the state language was actively spreading on the lands subject to it, due to which the local population was transferred to the culture and customs of the Arabs.

The 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, 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 conquered the entire Arab world, and this continued until the 19th century, when the British and French already dominated North Africa. Only after the Second World War, all the people, except for the Palestinians, gained independence. They received freedom only by the end of the 20th century.

We will consider later where the Arabs live today, but for now it is worth dwelling on the language and cultural characteristics this people.

Language and culture

The Arabic language, the official language of all countries in which this group of people lives, belongs to the Afroasian 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 long history. The language is constantly changing. Arabic is now written from right to left and has no capital letters.

Along with the development of the people, culture also developed. It acquired its dawn during the period of the Caliphate. It is noteworthy that the Arabs based their culture on the basis of Roman, Egyptian, Chinese and others, and in general, this people made a big step in the development of human civilization. Studying the language and heritage will help to understand who the Arabs are, what are their values.

Science and literature

Arabic science developed on the basis of ancient Greek, for the most part on military affairs, since vast territories could not be captured and defended only with the help of human resources. At the same time, various schools open. There are also scientific centers thanks to the development natural sciences. Great strides have been made in the historical and geographical areas of research. Mathematics, medicine and astronomy received a great leap in development in the Caliphate.

chief literary work Arab world is the Koran. It is written in the form of 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 depictions of nature. In the Caliphate, such world works were written that are popular to this day, these are: "A Thousand and One Nights", "Maqamat", "Messages of Forgiveness" and "The Book of the Miser".

Arabic architecture

Many art objects were created by the Arabs. On initial stage the influence of Roman and Byzantine traditions affected, but over time, their architecture acquires its own unique look. By the 10th century, a peculiar type of columned mosque was created with a rectangular courtyard in the center, surrounded by numerous halls, 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, with which buildings were decorated both outside and inside. Domes appear from the 13th century. In the 15th century, the decoration of buildings was based on the Moorish style, an example of this trend is the Alhambra castle in Granada. After the conquest of the Arab Caliphate by the Turks, architecture acquires 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, if you do not study the position of women in their world. Until the middle of the 20th century, girls were at their most lowest level in society. They did not have the right to vote, one might say, they were not considered people, but interestingly, the attitude towards mothers was always respectful. Now, especially in large cities, the attitude towards women has changed. Now they can attend schools, higher educational institutions and even hold high political and government positions. Polygamy, which is allowed in Islam, is slowly disappearing. You rarely see a man with more than two wives these days.

With regards to religion, then, of course, mostly Arabs profess Islam, about 90 percent. Also a small part are adherents of Christianity, mostly Protestants and a small part of the Orthodox. In ancient times, this people, like most ancient tribes, worshiped the stars, the sun and the sky. They honored 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 now they are commonly considered Muslims.

Arab countries

There are a fairly large number of states in the world where the Arab people live. Countries in which the vast majority of the population is precisely this nationality can be considered their original ones. For them, the place of residence is mostly in Asian countries. The largest representation of Arabs in 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 around the world, for the most part it is 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 developed as a result of military and political conflicts. Currently, Arab immigrants are distributed in such territories: France, USA, Germany, Italy, Austria, etc. In Russia, this moment About 10 thousand immigrants live, this is one of the smallest representations.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a well-known, 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 that the Emirates are developing so quickly. Only in the 1970s, the country gained independence, and in such a short time it reached great heights. Most famous cities The UAE is Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country, and Dubai.

Dubai Tourism

Now the United Arab Emirates attracts tourists from all over the world, but, of course, the center of attraction is Dubai.

This city has everything: any vacationer will be able to satisfy their desires, even lovers of skiing 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. It is the tallest building in the world, reaching 830 meters in height. Inside this massive structure are retail space, offices, apartments, hotels and much more.

The largest water park in the world is also in Dubai. Thousands of different specimens of animals and fish live here. Entering the aquarium, you plunge into the world of a fairy tale, you feel like an inhabitant of the marine world.

In this city, everything is always the largest and largest. The largest and most beautiful artificial archipelago "Mir" is located here. The outlines of the island copy the contours of our planet. The view from the top is magnificent, so it's worth taking a helicopter tour.

Thus, the Arab world is a fascinating history, culture and modern way of life. Everyone should get acquainted with the peculiarities of this people, go to the states where the Arabs live, for recreation and entertainment, because this is an amazing and unique phenomenon on planet Earth.

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 originally lived surrounded by two seas and bays. The close proximity to the Syrian desert contributed to the isolation. As a result, the Arabian Peninsula could indeed be presented as a territory separated from the rest of the world. For a long time, the Arab tribes were scattered and lived separately. Difficult climatic conditions and the need to live together to protect themselves from adversity helped the Arabs to gain a unity of self-consciousness. Now refers to the Arab people large group population living in many regions of the world, including East Africa.

Story

The unification of the Arab tribes took place in 3-2 millennia BC. Historians call the tribes that existed then Semitic, which became the Arab people. Arabization affected the Phoenicians, Libyans, Egyptians and other nationalities.
The first states of Arab origin appeared in the 6th-5th centuries BC. These include Sabaean, Minean, Nabataean and others.
Historians often disagree on the exact year in which the formation of the Arab people was consolidated. Presumably, this is the period of the 4th-6th centuries. AD
Cities actively developed, trade relations with nomads were established. At the same time, the development of trade with Syria, Ethiopia, and Iran was observed. Competitions of poets were regularly held in Northern Arabia. It is in them that one can trace the formation of Arab self-consciousness and national patriotism. An important prerequisite for the unification of the tribes was the formation of two main languages ​​(Northern Arabic and South Arabic).

culture

Arab culture is credited with a great influence on the world. Around the 4th century AD, the Arabs already had a written language. The Arab caliphate united many states, exact and applied sciences were rapidly developed. The Arabs were especially interested in astronomy. They were among the first to determine the size the globe, admired the success of the Arabs in mathematics Western Europe. Trigonometric equations appeared at the turn of the 9th and 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 richness of the Arabs is not limited to science. architectural masterpieces known all over the world. Among them are mosques, minarets, palaces. These types of buildings are considered unique, also due to the ornaments.
Even during the period of the Crusades and the invasion of the Mongols, when the destruction of cultural values ​​was observed, the Arab people were able to show serious achievements. The sciences no longer simply developed, but began to be taught as disciplines. At the same time, fiction and ceramics processing developed.
IN early middle ages folklore was actively developing, poets were valued incredibly strongly. Citizens used metaphors, sayings, the ability to speak beautifully was rated very highly. Poets praised fellow tribesmen, increasing their authority. Among the people, poets were perceived ambiguously. Often people said that inspiration comes to them from the devil, who listens to the conversations of angels. Often the poets turned out to be impersonal - the people were interested in their work, but not in life. Therefore, about many representatives creative elite little is known.
Among famous poets it should be noted Abu Nuwas, who glorified feasts and love. Abul-Atahiya praised morality, emphasized the injustice of the way of life, scolded worldly fuss. Al-Mutanabbi was known as a wanderer, honoring the rulers of Iran, Egypt, and Syria. He did not hesitate to scold them and put up.
Abul-Ala al-Maarri is considered the most significant poet in the Arab people. Al-Ma'arri was a Muslim who had studied the Qur'an since childhood. As a child, he lost his sight due to smallpox. However, this spurred him to study the sciences, philosophy and gave impetus to the desire to know the world. Traveling, the poet composed poems in which contemporaries note deep erudition. Al-Maarri devoted many works to the study of society, noting its vices.
Speaking of Arabic literature, it is impossible not to recall the work "A Thousand and One Nights".
Everyone is familiar with Ali Baba, Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor. Exactly Arabian tales With young years introduce the reader to the features of the palace life of the Arab people.
A significant name in history was the name of Omar Khayyam, a Persian philosopher, scientist and poet. He adhered to hedonic thinking and praised the joys of life.
Historians and orientalists are sincerely surprised at 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 Quran is a collection of Islamic teachings. It is based on commandments, prayers, edifications and legal guidelines. It is in the Koran that the oldest loan agreement is set out, which regulates the relationship between the borrower and the person providing the loan. The Koran makes it possible to read the parables of the Prophet Muhammad - the followers of Islam learn suras by heart. Muslims divide the sayings into those spoken by Muhammad and those spoken by Allah, calling the latter revelations. The rest are called legends. The Quran was canonized in the 7th century AD. significant event for scripture are commentaries that enable believers to better understand Scripture.
Fanaticism of the teachings of the Koran appeared in the Middle Ages. A voluminous book was taught by heart, considering it at the same time a book for learning the Arabic language. The Quran was forbidden to be translated into other languages, but distributed among Arab population writing was allowed. This contributed to the development Muslim culture the 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 jinn - jinnology. In Islam, jinn are perceived as demons created from fire. Man was created from clay, and angels from light. Jinn are mortal, but able to live for hundreds of years. The genie must eat, it is natural for him to get close to a person and even to marry people. Among the supernatural abilities that genies possessed were gaining invisibility, turning into an animal, plant, another person.
Jinn are usually divided into good and evil. The first converted to Islam, remaining obedient to Allah. The evil ones turned into infidels, but both types of jinn are dangerous for humans. The greatest threat was posed by the marids and ifrit, thirsting for blood. The Arabs believed (some believe even now) that ghouls are introduced into the cemeteries - huge cannibal werewolves.
Jinn accompanied man all his life, so people always warned each other about the danger of colliding with them. For protection, a Muslim turned to Allah to warn against the attack of demons. Protective amulets were often used, one of the most popular was the Palm of Fatima, which was a copper palm with a bead. blue color.
Fatima was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and the amulet named after her, according to the Arabs, 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, the rudeness of the interlocutor.
The fear of the evil eye affected the way of life of the Arabs. This is manifested in clothing, the desire to preserve family secrets.
Dreams among the Arabs are perceived as a unique phenomenon. The first dream book dates back to the 11th century. The Koran says that it is impossible to lie about dreams, therefore it was forbidden to invent and conjecture a dream. It was allowed to guess, referring to the elders, who could "read" the dream. Fortune-telling was given a lot of attention, primarily focused on birds. It was not worth getting involved in divination rituals, as this could lead to magic. It was believed that white magic was the lot of a pious person. She was favored by the angels, the good genies. An inexperienced person could quickly come to black magic, capable of embodying secret and dark desires. The evil magician was helped by the shaitans, who called troubles, not only on those around them, but also on himself. These features of the worldview appeared in pre-Islamic times, they have survived to this day.

Life

• The foundations of morality, culture, social life are set out in the Shariah. Sharia teachings were formed in the 7th century. Sharia obliges every Muslim to fast, read prayers, and perform rituals. It was prescribed to do charity;
• Eating food, daily sleep, marriage are not encouraged in any way, but they are not subject to a ban. Sharia does not approve of the enjoyment of earthly life, such as eating food. Drinking wine, pork, gambling, witchcraft and usury were prohibited. Sharia has long been strictly observed, with the exception of the use of wine, which was very fond of the townspeople. The villagers tried to observe the norms strictly;
• Marriage is considered one of major events in the life of every person. Divorce, inheritance, and other items related to marriage are based on 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 a boy was born a man becomes complete person. The Koran ordered to bring up valor in sons, the ability to answer for the 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 completely relied on the slave trade.

Character

1. Men of the same age can pat each other on the knee or on the shoulder.
2. Elders must be respected.
3. Men and women try to communicate with each other, avoiding contact with persons of the opposite sex.
4. Traditionally, during the meal, men and women sit at different tables.
5. Demonstrating feelings in public is considered indecent even in relation to spouses.
6. The greeting of men is a threefold imitation of kisses when they touch their cheeks.
7. Fraternal relations between men are widespread: in Arab countries often you can see men walking, holding hands with each other, sometimes they walk in threes, hugging each other by the waist.
8. Bows are outdated, but when meeting with a guest of particular importance in status, he must be kissed on the shoulder.
9. Elderly people sometimes imitate kissing hands.

National Costume

Traditional national costume Arabs is the kandura dress. This dress is worn by men. In the summer season, clothes are invariably white, in winter they wear beige, less often light green kandoor. On the head they wear a hafia, which is a small hat. The scarf familiar to all of us is called gutra. It can be white or red. If a man is going to a celebration, such as a wedding, he will wear a special bisht cape. Arab men also like to wear kerkushu jewelry, which is a small tassel. The dress is not worn naked body- under it there is always a shirt with a vuzar belt.
Women also wear kandura, although with longer sleeves. Sirval pants are put on the legs, and an abaya over the dress. There are several options for headwear, the most popular are the hijab and dishwa. The latter covers the face and head completely. On rare occasions, a mask called a burqa can be seen covering the lips, nose, and part of the forehead. Modern suit options may include real ties or fitted jackets. Arabs are watching fashion trends and often wear clothes from fashion designers.

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:

1. Food is taken sitting on the floor. Mattresses are rarely laid, usually carpets are used. There is a need right hand, and with the left you can wipe your mouth with a napkin. Cutlery is not used, they are replaced with cakes, which are folded in the form of a scoop. After a meal, incense is applied to clothes or skin. Hands are washed with rose water.
2. The woman is given the role of the guardian of the hearth. She can't cook or clean. The husband is obliged to support her and give gifts. In fact, this tradition often has to be broken, because not all Arabs have sufficient prosperity. Therefore, in simple Arab families, children help their mothers around the house.
3. Prayers are performed every day five times.
4. In Ramadan, it is necessary to observe fasting, which prohibits smoking, drinking during the daytime. alcoholic beverages and even eating.
5. The Bedouins have a thousand-year-old custom that orders to receive a guest who "knocks on the tent." The Bedouin invites the stranger, handing him a cup of bitter tea, symbolizing the hectic life. The life of a Bedouin is sweet, so after the bitter one comes a cup of sweet tea. A guest can spend 3 days and 3 nights with a Bedouin, then he must tell why he came. Some people just love to enjoy Bedouin hospitality, but there are those who run from the authorities. The Bedouin can help or refuse.
6. Families in Arab countries are divided into clans. Traditionally, the number of children in one family can reach 5–8.
7. Arabs actively develop the most talented boys. Maximum one or two. The rest themselves must look for their place in life, but they can always count on the help of relatives.
8. There is a special day for women when fitness centers, beaches, water parks and other public places open only to them.

You can talk about the Arabs for a very long time. This is a truly great nation that influenced the development of science and art around the world. They not only made a significant contribution to the history of mankind, but also continue to share their experience and cultural traditions. IN recent decades the moral character of the Arabs became less strict. Many young people willingly get acquainted with foreigners, enjoy the achievements modern civilization, learn 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, the Arabs are people with a broad soul who love life very much, which is manifested in their speech, literature and everyday life.

Belly dance 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.