The
Arabian World and the Birth of Islam
nThe inhospitable
Arabian peninsula was inhabited by Bedouin societies.
nSome desert-dwellers
herded camels and goats.
nOthers practiced
agriculture in oasis towns.
nImportant agricultural
and commercial centers flourished in southern coastal
regions.
nThe towns were
extensions of Bedouin society, sharing its culture,
and ruled by its clans.
