arabs - who are they

7/29/2019 Arabs - Who Are They

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9/23/13 Arab people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people

Arab people, also known as Arabs(Arabic: , arab) and Arabians, are a panethnic group[16] primarilyinhabiting Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more ofgenealogical,linguistic,

orcultural grounds,[17]with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing an important part of Arab

identity.[18] Most however have direct or partial ancestral relation to the nomadic indigenous inhabitants of the Arabian

peninsula and the Syrian desert, known as Qahtanite andAdnanite Arabs. After the genesis of Islam in the mid-7th

century, most Arabs have been Muslims,[19]spreading the Arab people,Arab language and culture with theMuslim

conquests as far as North Africa and Central Asia.

The word "Arab" has had several different, but overlapping, meanings over the centuries (and sometimes even today).In addition to including all ethnically Arab and Arabized people of the world (with language tending to be the acid

test), it has also at times been used exclusively forbedouin (Arab nomads [although a related word, "`a-RAB," with

the Arabic letter "alif" in the second syllable, once was sometimes used when this specific meaning was intended]

and their now almost entirely settled descendants). It is sometimes used that way colloquially even today in some

places. Townspeople once were sometimes called "sons of the Arabs." As in the case of other ethnicities or nations,

people identify themselves (or are identified by others) as "Arabs" to varying degrees. This may not be one's primary

identity (it tends to compete with country, religion, sect, etc.), and whether it is emphasized may depend upon one's

audience. If the diverse Arab pan-ethnicity is regarded as a single ethnic group, then it constitutes one of the world's

largest afterHan Chinese.

Contents [hide]

1 Etymology

2 Identity

3 Arab population

4 Arab diaspora

5 History

5.1 Pre-Islamic

5.1.1 Semitic origin

5.1.2 Early history

5.1.3 Classical kingdoms5.1.4 Late kingdoms

5.2 Islamic

5.2.1 Arab Caliphate

5.2.2 Ottoman Caliphate

5.3 Modern

6 Religion

6.1 Ancient times

6.2 Islam

6.3 Druze faith

6.4 Christianity6.5 Judaism

7 Urbanization

8 Science

9 Culture

9.1 Art

9.2 Architecture

9.3 Music

9.4 Literature

10 Genetics
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people 2

10.1 Y-Chromosome

10.2 Maternal Chromosome

10.3 Other Chromosomes

11 References

12 Further reading

13 External links

Etymology [ edit source | editbeta

]

Further information:Arab (etymology)

The earliest documented use of the word "Arab" to refer to a people appears in the Monolith Inscription, anAkkadian

language record of the 9th century BCAssyrian Conquest of Syria(Arabs had formed part of a coalition of forces

opposed to Assyria).[20] Listed among the booty captured by the army of king Shalmaneser III ofAssyria in the Battle

of Qarqarare 1000 camels of "Gi-in-di-bu'u the ar-ba-a-a" or "[the man] Gindibu belonging to the arab" (ar-ba-a-

a being an adjectival nisba of the noun arab).[20]

The most popular Arab account holds that the word 'Arab' came from an eponymous father called Yarab, who was

supposedly the first to speak Arabic.Al-Hamdani had another view; he states that Arabs were called GhArab (West

in Semitic) by Mesopotamians because Arabs resided to the west of Mesopotamia; the term was then corrupted intoArab. Yet another view is held byAl-Masudi that the word Arabs was initially applied to the Ishmaelitesof the

"Arabah" valley.

In Biblical etymology, "Arab" (in HebrewArvi{{he:}}) comes both from the desert origin of the people(Arava means wilderness) and/or from the concept of mixed people (Arev-rav- a large group of mixed people). The

root a-r-b several additional meanings in Semitic languagesincluding "west/sunset," "desert," "mingle," "merchant,"

"raven" and are "comprehensible" with all of these having varying degrees of relevance to the emergence of the name.

It is also possible that some forms were metathetical from -B-R "moving around" (Arabic -B-R"traverse"), and hence

it is alleged, "nomadic."

Identity [ edit source | edit beta ]

Arab identity is defined independently ofreligious identity, and pre-dates the rise ofIslam, with historically

attestedArab Christ ian kingdoms andArab Jewish tribes. Today, however, most Arabs are Muslim, with a minority

adhering to other faiths, largely Christianity. Arabs are generally Sunni, Shia orSufi Muslims, but currently, 7.1

percent to 10 percent of Arabs areArab Christians.[21] This figure does not include Christian ethnic groups such

asAssyrians, and Syriacs.

The early Arabs were the tribes of Northern Arabia speaking proto Arabic dialects. Although since early days other

people became Arabs through an Arabization process that could mean intermarriage with Arabs, adopting the Arabic

language and culture, or both. For example, the Ghassanids and the Lakhmids which originated from Southern

Semitic speaking Yemen made a major contribution in the creation of the Arabic language. The same processhappened all over the Arab world after the spread of Islam by the mixing of Arabs with several other peoples. The Arab

cultures went through a mixing process. Therefore every Arab country has cultural specificities which constitute a

cultural mix which also originate in local novelties achieved after the arabization took place. However, all Arab

countries do also share a common culture in most Aspects: Arts (music, literature, poetry, calligraphy...), Cultural

products (Handicrafts, carpets, henne, bronze carving...), Social behaviour and relations (Hospitality, codes of

conduct among friends and family...), Customs and superstitions, Some dishes (Shorba, Mloukhia), Traditional

clothing, Architecture...

Non-Arab Muslims, who are about 80 percent of the world's Muslim population, do not form part of theArab world, bu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_populationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriacshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Pacini-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Christians_and_Arabic-speaking_Christianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_Middle_Easthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_tribes_of_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Christianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metathesis_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmaeliteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Masudihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ab%C5%AB_Muhammad_al-Hasan_al-Hamd%C4%81n%C4%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarabhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Retsop105-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_nouns_and_adjectives#Nisbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gindibuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Qarqarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalmaneser_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Retsop105-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_Conquest_of_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadian_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolith_Inscriptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_(etymology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#Other_Chromosomeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#Maternal_Chromosomehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#Y-Chromosomehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=1


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An overv iew of the diff erentArabic

dialects

Distribution of Arabic as sole official

language (green) and one of several official

or national languages (blue).

instead comprise what is the geographically larger, and more

diverse, Muslim World.

In the USA, Arabs have historically been racially classified as

white/Caucasian[22][23] and, since 1997, by the U.S. Census as

well.[24][25]

Arabic, the main unifying feature among Arabs, is a Semitic

language originating inArabia. From there it spread to a variety of distinct

peoples across most ofWest Asia and North Africa,[26]resulting intheiracculturation and eventual denomination as Arabs.Arabization, a

culturo-linguistic shift, was often, though not always, in conjunction

with Islamization, a religious shift.

With the rise of Islam in the 7th century, and as the language of the Qur'an, Arabic became the lingua franca of the

Islamic world.[27] It was in this period that Arabic language and culture was widely disseminated with the

early Islamic expansion, both through conquestand cultural contact.[28]

Arabic culture and language, however, began a more limited diffusion before the Islamic age, first spreading in West

Asia beginning in the 2nd century, asArab Christ ians such as theGhassanids, Lakhmids and Banu Judham began

migrating north from Arabia into the Syrian Desert, south western Iraq and the Levant.

[29][30]

In the modern era, defining who is an Arab is done on the grounds of one or more of the following two criteria:

Genealogical: someone who can trace his or her ancestry to the tribes

of Arabia the original inhabitants of theArabian Peninsula and

the Syrian Desert. This was the definition used in medieval times, for

example by Ibn Khaldun, but has decreased in importance over time,

as a portion of those of Arab ancestry lost their links with their

ancestors' motherland. In the modern era, however, DNA tests have at

times proved reliable in identifying those of Arab genealogical descent.

For example, it has been found that the frequency of the "Arab marker"

Haplogroup J1 collapses suddenly at the borders of Arabic speaking

countries.[31]

Linguistic: someone whose first language, and by extension cultural

expression, isArabic, including any ofits varieties. This definition

covers more than 450 million people. Certain groups that fulfill this

criterion reject this definition on the basis of non-Arab ancestry; such an example may be seen in the way

that Egyptians identified themselves in the early 20th century.[32][33]

The relative importance of these factors is estimated differently by different groups and frequently disputed. Some

combine aspects of each definition, as done by Palestinian Habib Hassan Touma,[34] who defines anArab "in the

modern sense of the word", as "one who is a national of an Arab state, has command of the Arabic language, and

possesses a fundamental knowledge of Arab tradition, that is, of the manners, customs, and political and social

systems of the culture." Most people who consider themselves Arab do so based on the overlap of the political and

linguistic definitions.

TheArab League, a regional organization ofcountries intended to encompass the Arab world, defines an Arab as:

An Arab is a person whose language is Arabic, who lives in an Arabic-speaking country, and who is in

sympathy with the aspirations of the Arabic-speaking peoples. [35]

According to Sadek Jawad Sulaimanis the former Ambassador of Oman to the United States:

The Arabs are defined by their culture, not by race; and their
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Schoolgirls in Gaza lining up for class,

2009

culture is defined by its essential twin constituents of Arabism and

Islam. To most of the Arabs, Islam is their indigenous religion; to

all of the Arabs, Islam is their indigenous civilization. The Arab

identity, as such, is a culturally defined identity, which means

being Arab is being someone whose mother culture, or dominant

culture, is Arabism. Beyond that, he or she might be of any

ancestry, of any religion or philosophical persuasion, and a citizen

of any country in the world. Being Arab does not contradict with

being non-Muslim or non-Semitic or not being a citizen of an Arab

state.[36]

The relation ofarab and arb is complicated further by the notion of

"lost Arabs" al-Arab al-ba'ida mentioned in the Qur'an as punished for

their disbelief. All contemporary Arabs were considered as descended from two ancestors, Qahtan andAdnan.

Versteegh (1997) is uncertain whether to ascribe this distinction to the memory of a real difference of origin of the two

groups, but it is certain that the difference was strongly felt in early Islamic times. Even in Islamic Spain there was

enmity between the Qays of the northern and the Kalb of the southern group. The so-called Sabaean or Himyarite

language described byAb Muhammad al-Hasan al-Hamdn(died 946) appears to be a special case of language

contact between the two groups, an originally north Arabic dialect spoken in the south, and influenced by Old South

Arabian.[ci tation needed][dubious discuss]

During the Muslim conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries, the Arabs forged anArab Empire(under

the Rashidun and Umayyads, and later theAbbasids) whose borders touched southern France in the west, China in

the east,Asia Minorin the north, and the Sudan in the south. This was one of the largest land empires in history. In

much of this area, the Arabs spread Islam and the Arabic culture, science, and language (the language of the Qur'an)

through conversion and cultural assimilation.

Two references valuable for understanding the political significance of Arab identity: Michael C. Hudson, Arab Politics

The Search for Legitimacy (Yale University Press, 1977), especially Chs. 2 and 3; and Michael N. Barnett, Dialogues

in Arab Politics: Negotiations in Regional Order (Columbia University Press, 1998

Arab population [ edit source | edit beta ]

The table below shows the number of Arab people, including expatriates and some groups that may not be identified

as Arabs.

The total number of Arabs living in the Arab nations is 366,117,749. The total number lining in non-Arab majority

states is 17,474,000. The worldwide total is 383,591,749.

Countries with a large Arab population

Flag Country TotalPopulation

%Arab

Notes

Egypt 83,688,164[37] 90%[38]

The common consensus among Egyptians is that this class ification is tied to

them to the us e of Arabic as an official language in Egypt. The Egyptian dialec

of Arabic include thousands of Coptic words. Ninety percent of the population

is Eastern Hamitic.

Algeria 37,367,226 70%[39] Algerians with mos t of their tribes have Arab and Berber background

Morocco 32,309,239 66%[40]The high level of mixing between Arabs and Berbers makes differentiating

between the two ethnicities in Morocco difficult. This figure includes people of
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mixed Berber and Arab descent.

Iraq 31,467,00075-

80%[41]

Iraqis are primarily descended from Iraq's originalMesopotamian population.

The dialect of Arabic spoken by Iraqis (Mesopotamian Arabic) has

anAramaicsubstratum and retains vocabulary

ofAkkadian and Sumerian provenance. Many Iraqis look to Babylonia,Ass yria,

and Sumerfor their origins and have a sens e of Mesopotamian ethnicity,

though generally not in antithesis to Arab cultural identification.

Saudi

Arabia 26,246,000 90%[42] Saudis are ofArabian orBedouin ancestry

Sudan 25,946,220 70%[43] Arabs and Bedouin are by far the largest ethnic group, among 597 tribes.[43]

Yemen 24,256,000 100%[44]

Syria 22,505,000 90.3%[45]

Syrians are primarily descended from the ancient peoples ofSyria. The Syrian

dialect of Arabic has anAramaicsubstratum like other dialects ofLevantine

Arabic and Mesopotamian Arabic. TheAramaeanswere one of the peoples of

ancient Syria and in antiquity Syria was known asAram. The Aramaic

language of the Aramaeans became the regionallingua franca during the

early 1st millennium BC, and it remained so until replaced in this role

byArabic in the 8th century AD.

Tunisia 10,374,000 98%[46]Almost all of Tunis ia's citizenry has Arab and Berber background. Because of

the high degree of ass imi lation Tunisians are often referred to as Arab-

Berber.[47]

Chad 10,329,208 15%[48]

Israel 7,933,200 20.5%[49]

Libya 6,546,000 97%[50]Almost all of Libya's citizenry has Arab and Berber background. Because of

the high degree of assimilation Libyans are often referred to as Arab-

Berber.[51]

Jordan 6,472,000 98%[52]

Eritrea 6,086,495 2%[53] Mainly Rashaida

Lebanon 4,255,000 95%[54]

Palestine 4,225,710 89%Gaza Strip: 1,657,155, 100% Pales tinian Arab,[55]West Bank: 2,568,555, 83%

Palestinian Arab and other[56]

Kuwait 3,030,000 80%[57]

UAE 4,707,000 40%[58]Less than 20% of the population in the Emirates are citizens, the majority are

foreign workers and expatriates. Those holding Emirati citizenship are

overwhelmingly Arab.

Oman 3,090,150 90%[59]

Mauritania 3,343,000 80%[44]

The majority of Mauritania's population are ethnicMoors, an ethnici ty with a

mix of Arab and Berber ancestry, with a smaller Black African ancestry. Moors

make up 80% of the population in Mauritania, the remaining 20% are

mem bers of a number of Black African ethnic groups.[44][dubious discuss]

Qatar 1,508,000 55%[42]

The native population is a minority in Qatar, making up 20% of the population.

The native population is ethnically Arab. An additional 35% of the population is

made up of Arabs, mostly Egyptian and Palestinian workers. The remaining

population is m ade up of other foreign workers.[42]

46.0% of the Bahrain's population are native Bahrainis . Bahrainis are
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-p275-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-p275-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Arab_people#Dubioushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disputed_statementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-p302-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-p302-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-CIA_world_factbook-59http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-58http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-57http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwaithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwaithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-56http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-55http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Striphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Palestinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_territorieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashaida_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritreahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritreahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_francahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_(biblical_region)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arameanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levantine_Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratum_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-p302-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-CIA_World_Factbook_Sudan-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-CIA_World_Factbook_Sudan-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-p275-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerian_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadian_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratum_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq


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Syrian immigrants in New York City, as

depicted in 1895

Bahrain 1,234,571 51.4%[60] ethnically Arabs.[61]5.4%are Other Arabs (inc. GCC)[60]

Western

Sahara663,000[62][63] 80%

Ethnically Western Sahara is inhabited by Arab-berbers.[64] Two languages

are widely spokenHassaniya Arabic and Moroccan Arabic.[65]

Djibouti 804,000 4.5%[66]

Arab diaspora [ edit source | edit beta ]

TheArab diaspora is a global diaspora distributed across many continents.

Arab diaspora

Flag Country Number of Arabs Total Population % Arabs Notes

Brazil 1,500,000 194,000,000 0.7% [67]

France 5,500,000 65,350,000 7.7% [68]

Indonesia 5,000,000 237,420,000 2.1% [69]

Argentina 3,500,000 41,280,000 8.5% [70]

United States 3,500,000 315,700,000 1.11% [71]

Sri Lanka 1,870,000 20,260,000 9.23% [72]

Israel 1,650,000 8,000,000 20.5%[73]

Venezuela 1,600,000 29,000,000 5.5% [74]

Iran 1,600,000 79,196,000 2% [75]

Turkey 1,600,000 75,620,000 2% [76]

Mexico 1,100,000 115,300,000 0.95% [77]

Chile 1,000,000 17,400,000 5.8% [78]

Spain 800,000 46,750,000 2.4%

Italy 800,000 60,230,000 1.3%

Colombia 700,000 46,370,000 1.5% [79]

United Kingdom 500,000 63,180,000 0.8% [80]

Germany 500,000 82,000,000 0.6% [81]

Canada 450,000 33,500,000 1.4% [82]

Netherlands 400,000 16,750,000 2.4% [83]

Australia 350,000 22,970,000 1.5% [84]

Greece 250,000 10,900,000 2.2%

According to the International Organization for Migration, there are 13

million first-generation Arab migrants in the world, of which 5.8 reside in

Arab countries. Arab expatriates contribute to the circulation of financial

and human capital in the region and thus significantly promote regional

development.[citation needed] In 2009 Arab countries received a total of 35.1

billion USD inremittance in-flows and remittances sent

toJordan, Egypt and Lebanon from other Arab countries are 40 to 190 per

cent higher than trade revenues between these and other Arab

countries.[85]

The 250,000 strong Lebanese community in West Africa is the largest

non-African group in the region.[86][87]

Arab traders have long operated in Southeast Asia and along the East Africa's Swahili coast.Zanzibarwas once ruled

by Omani Arabs.[88] Most of the prominent Indonesians, Malaysians, and Singaporeans of Arab descent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Indonesianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-88http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanzibarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_coasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-87http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-86http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-85http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remittancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Organization_for_Migrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-84http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-83http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-82http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-81http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-80http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-79http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-78http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-77http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-JoshuaProject-76http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-75http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-74http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-73http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-72http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-71http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-70http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-69http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-68http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-NE-67http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diasporahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_diasporahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-66http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djiboutihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djiboutihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-65http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassaniya_Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-64http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-63http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-62http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Saharahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-2010-census-60http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_Bahrainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-61http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-2010-census-60http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Syrian_colony,_Washington_Street.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Syrian_colony,_Washington_Street.jpg


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LebaneseMexican billionaire Carlos

Slim has been ranked by Forbes as

therichest person in the w orld.

are Hadhrami people with origins in southern Yemen in the Hadramawt coastal region.[89]

Central Asia and Caucasus

Further information:Arabs in the Caucasus, Emirate of Tbilis i, Emirate of Armenia, andHistory of Arabs in

Afghanistan

In 1728, a Russian officer described a group of Sunni Arab nomads who populated theCaspian shores ofMughan (in

present-dayAzerbaijan) and spoke a mixed Turkic-Arabic language.[90] It is believed that these groups migrated to

the Caucasus in the 16th century.[91] The 1888 edition ofEncyclopdia Britannica also mentioned a certain number

of Arabs populating the Baku Governorate of the Russian Empire.[92] They retained anArabic dialect at least into the

mid-19th century,[93] but since then have fully assimilated with the neighbouringAzeris and Tats. Today in Azerbaijan

alone, there are nearly 30 settlements still holding the nameArab (for example,Arabgadim,Arabojaghy,Arab-

Yengija, etc.).

From the time of the Arab conquest of the Caucasus, continuous small-scale

Arab migration from various parts of the Arab world was observed

in Dagestaninfluencing and shaping the culture of the local peoples. Up until

the mid-20th century, there were still individuals in Dagestan who claimed

Arabic to be their native language, with the majority of them living in the

village of Darvag to the north-west ofDerbent. The latest of these accountsdates to the 1930s.[91]Most Arab communities in southern Dagestan

underwent linguistic Turkicisation, thus nowadays Darvag is a majority-Azeri

village. [94][95]

According to the History of Ibn Khaldun, the Arabs that were once in Central

Asia have been either killed or have fled the Tatar invasion of the region,

leaving only the locals .[96] However, today many people in Central Asia

identify as Arabs. MostArabs of Central Asia are fully integrated into local

populations, and sometimes call themselves the same as locals (for example, Tajiks, Uzbeks) but they use special

titles to show their Arabic origin such as Sayyid, Khoja orSiddiqui.[97]

South Asia

Further information:Ashraf, Caste system among South Asian Muslims, andHistory of Arabs in Afghanistan

There are only two communities with the self-identity Arab in South Asia, the Chaush of theDeccan region and

the Chavuse ofGujerat,[98][99] who are by and large descended of Hadhrami migrants who settled in these two

regions in the 18th Centuries. However, both these communities no longer speak Arabic, although with the Chaush,

there has been re-immigration to the Gulf States, and re-adoption of Arabic by these immigrants.[100] In South Asia,

claiming Arab ancestry is considered prestigious, and many communities have origin myths with claim to an Arab

ancestry. Examples include the Mappilla ofKerala, Labbai ofTamil Nadu and Kokan ofMaharashtra. These

communities all allege an Arab ancestry, but none speak Arabic and follow the customs and traditions of

the Hindu majority.[101] Among Muslims ofNorth India,Arabs in PakistanPakistan andAfghanistan, there are groupswho claim the status ofSayyid, have origin myths that allege descent from the Prophet Mohammmad. None of these

Sayyid families speak Arabic or follow Arab customs or traditions. [102]

Iranian Arab communities are also found in Khuzestan Province.

History [ edit source | edit beta ]

Pre-Islamic [ edit source | edit beta ]

Main article: Pre-Islamic Arabia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Islamic_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuzestan_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Arabshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-102http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabs_in_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-101http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokani_Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labbaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mappillahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-100http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-99http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-98http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujerathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_(Gujarat)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Arabs_in_Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_South_Asian_Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashrafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Owensp184-97http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddiquihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoja_(Turkestan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbekshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%81jik_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asian_Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Khaldun-96http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Wrum-95http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Sefer-94http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-zelkina-91http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derbenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagestanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C6%8Fr%C9%99byengic%C9%99http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C6%8Fr%C9%99boca%C4%9F%C4%B1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C6%8Fr%C9%99bq%C9%99dimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tat_people_(Caucasus)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Bakik-93http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirvani_Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Baynesp514-92http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku_Governoratehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-zelkina-91http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Genko-90http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughan_plainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Arabs_in_Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirate_of_Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirate_of_Tbilisihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabs_in_the_Caucasushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-89http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadramawthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadhrami_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes_list_of_billionaireshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Slimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_immigration_to_Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carlos_Slim_Helu.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carlos_Slim_Helu.jpg


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Nabataean trade routes in Pre-Islamic

Arabia

Assyrian horsemen pursue defeated

Arabs

Pre-Islamic Arabia refers to the Arabic civilization which existed in

theArabian Peninsula before the rise ofIslam in the 630s. The study of

Pre-Islamic Arabia is important to Islamic studies as it provides the

context for the development of Islam.

Semitic origin [ edit source | edit beta ]

There is a consensus that the Semitic peoples originated fromArabian

peninsula.[103][104] It should be pointed out that these settlers were not

Arabs or Arabic speakers. Early non Arab Semiticpeoples from

theAncient Near East, such as

theArameans,Akkadians (Assyrians andBabylonians),Amorites, Israelites, Eblaites,Ugarites and Canaanites, built

civilizations inMesopotamia and the Levant; genetically, they often interlapped and mixed.[105] Slowly, however, they

lost their political domination of the Near East due to internal turmoil and attacks by non-Semitic peoples. Although

the Semites eventually lost political control of Western Asia to thePersian Empire, theAramaic language remained

the lingua franca ofAssyria, Mesopotamia and the Levant. Aramaic itself was replaced by Greek as Western Asia'sprestige language following the conquest ofAlexander III of Macedon, though it survives to this day

amongAssyrian (aka Chaldo-Assyrian) Christians andMandeans in Iraq, northeast Syria, southeast Turkey and

northwest Iran.

Early history [ edit source | edit beta ]

The first written attestation of the ethnonym "Arab" occurs in an Assyrian inscription of 853 BCE, where Shalmanese

III lists a King Gindibu ofmtu arbi(Arab land) as among the people he defeated at the Battle of Karkar. Some of

the names given in these texts areAramaic, while others are the first attestations ofAncient North Arabian dialects. I

fact several different ethnonyms are found in Assyrian texts that are conventionally translated "Arab":Arabi, Arubu,

Aribiand Urbi. Many of the Qedarite queens were also described as queens of the aribi. The HebrewBible occasionally refers toAravipeoples (or variants thereof), translated as "Arab" or "Arabian." The scope of the

term at that early stage is unclear, but it seems to have referred to various desert-dwelling Semitic tribes in the Syrian

Desert andArabia.[citation needed] Arab tribes came into conflict with theAssyrians during the reign of the Assyrian

kingAshurbanipal, and he records military victories against the powerfulQedartribe among others.

Medieval Arab genealogists divided Arabs into three groups:

"Ancient Arabs", tribes that had vanished or been destroyed, such as d and Thamud, often mentioned in

the Qur'an as examples of God's power to destroy those who did not believe and follow their prophets and

messengers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur'anhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thamudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BF%C4%80dhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qedarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashurbanipalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Deserthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qedaritehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_North_Arabianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Karkarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gindibuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalmaneser_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandeanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldo-Assyrianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_III_of_Macedonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_francahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Easthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Semitic-105http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaaniteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugarithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eblahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeliteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoriteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arameanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Near_Easthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Craggp13-104http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-103http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_peninsulahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Peninsulahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Assyrian_horsemen_arabs.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Assyrian_horsemen_arabs.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NabateensRoutes.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NabateensRoutes.png


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"Pure Arabs" of South Arabia, descending from Qahtan. The Qahtanites (Qahtanis) are said to have migrated from

the land ofYemen following the destruction of the Ma'rib Dam(sadd Ma'rib).

The "Arabized Arabs" (musta`ribah) of center and North Arabia, descending from Ishmaelthe elder son

ofAbraham. The Book of Genesis narrates that God promised Hagarto beget from Ishmael twelve princes and

turn him to a great nation.(Genesis 17:20 ) TheBook of Jubilees, in the other hand, claims that the sons

ofIshmael intermingled with the 6 sons ofKeturah, fromAbraham, and their descendants were called Arabs

andIshmaelites:

Book ofJubilees 20:13And Ishmael and his sons, and the sons ofKeturahand their sons, wenttogether and dwelt from Paran to the entering in ofBabylon in all the land which is towards the East

facing the desert. And these mingled with each other, and their name was called Arabs,

andIshmaelites.

Ibn Khaldun's Muqaddima distinguishes between sedentary Muslims who used to benomadic Arabs and the Bedouin

nomadic Arabs of the desert. He used the term "formerly nomadic" Arabs and refers to sedentary Muslims by the

region or city they lived in, as inEgyptians, Spaniards and Yemenis.[106] The Christians of Italy and the Crusaders

preferred the term Saracens for all the Arabs and Muslims of that time. [107] The Christians of Iberia used the

term Moorto describe all the Arabs and Muslims of that time. Muslims ofMedinareferred to the nomadic tribes of the

deserts as the A'raab, and considered themselves sedentary, but were aware of their close racial bonds. The term"A'raab' mirrors the term Assyrians used to describe the closely related nomads they defeated in Syria.

The Qur'an does not use the word arab, only the nisba adjective arabiy. The Qur'an calls itselfarabiy, "Arabic",

and Mubin, "clear". The two qualities are connected for example in ayat 43.23, "By the clearBook: We have made i

anArabicrecitation in order that you may understand". The Qur'an became regarded as the prime example of the al-

arabiyya, the language of the Arabs. The term irb has the same root and refers to a particularly clear and correct

mode of speech. The plural noun arb refers to the Bedouin tribes of the desert who resisted Muhammad, for

example in ayat 9.97, alarbu aaddu kufrn wa nifqn "the Bedouin are the worst in disbeliefand hypocrisy".

Based on this, in early Islamic terminology, arabiyreferred to the language, and arb to the Arab Bedouins,

carrying a negative connotation due to the Qur'anic verdict just cited. But after the Islamic conquest of the 8th

century, the language of the nomadic Arabs became regarded as the most pure by the grammarians followingAbi

Ishaq, and the term kalam al-Arab, "language of the Arabs", denoted the uncontaminated language of the Bedouins.

Classical kingdoms [ edit source | edit beta ]

Main articles: Palmyra andNabateans

Proto-Arabic, orAncient North Arabian, texts give a clearer picture of the

Arabs' emergence. The earliest are written in variants ofepigraphic south

Arabian musnadscript, including the 8th century

BCE Hasaean inscriptions of eastern Saudi Arabia, the 6th century

BCE Lihyanite texts of southeastern Saudi Arabia and the Thamudictextsfound throughout Arabia and the Sinai (not in reality connected

with Thamud).

The Nabataeans were nomadic newcomers[108][dubious discuss] who

moved into territory vacated by the Edomites Semites who settled the

region centuries before them. Their early inscriptions were inAramaic, but

gradually switched to Arabic, and since they had writing, it was they who

made the first inscriptions in Arabic. The Nabataean Alphabet was

adopted by Arabs to the south, and evolved into modern Arabic script

around the 4th century. This is attested by Safaitic inscriptions (beginning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safaitichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataean_Alphabethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edomiteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Arab_people#Dubioushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disputed_statementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Biblical-108http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataeanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thamudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thamudichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lihyanitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Hasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Arabian_alphabethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigraph_(literature)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_North_Arabianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabateanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmyrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abi_Ishaqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_conquesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Tawbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%60rabhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Az-Zukhrufhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_nouns_and_adjectives#Nisbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur'anhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomadichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Lionheart-107http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saracenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Levity-106http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqaddimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Khaldunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmaeliteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_of_Paranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keturahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubileeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmaeliteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keturahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmaelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jubileeshttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Genesis&verse=17:20&src=HEhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Abrahamic_religionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Genesishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmaelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma'rib_Damhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qahtanitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qahtanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Al_Khazneh.jpg


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Facade ofAl Khazneh in Petra, Jordan,

built by the Nabateans

Age of the Caliphs

Expansion underMuhammad, 622

632/A.H. 111

Expansion during the Rashidun

Caliphate, 632661/A.H. 1140

Expansion during the Umayyad

Caliphate, 661750/A.H. 40129

in the 1st century BCE) and the many Arabic personal names

in Nabataean inscriptions. From about the 2nd century BCE, a few

inscriptions from Qaryat al-Faw (nearSulayyil) reveal a dialect which is no

longer considered "proto-Arabic", but pre-classical Arabic. Five Syriacinscriptions mentioning Arabs have been found

at Sumatar Harabesi, one of which has been dated to the 2nd century CE.

Late kingdoms [ edit source | edit beta ]

Further information: Lakhmids, Ghassanids, andKindites

The Ghassanids, Lakhmids and Kindites were the last major migration of non-Muslims out of Yemen to the north.

The Ghassanids increased the Semitic presence in the then Hellenized Syria, the majority of Semites

wereAramaic peoples. They mainly settled in the Hauran region and spread to modern Lebanon, Palestine and

East Jordan.

Greeks and Romans referred to all the nomadic population of the desert in the Near East as Arabi. The Romans

called Yemen "Arabia Felix".[109] The Romans called the vassal nomadic states within the Roman Empire "Arabia

Petraea" after the city ofPetra, and called unconquered deserts bordering the empire to the south and east Arabia

Magna.

The Lakhmids as a dynasty inherited their power from the Tanukhids, the mid Tigris region around their capitalAl-Hira they ended up allying with the Sassanid against theGhassanids and the Byzantine Empire. The Lakhmids

contested control of the Central Arabian tribes with the Kindites with the Lakhmids eventually destroying Kinda in

540 after the fall of their main ally Himyar. The Persians Sassanids dissolved the Lakhmid dynasty in 602, being

under puppet kings, then under their direct control. [110]

The Kindites migrated from Yemen along with the Ghassanids and Lakhmids, but were turned back in Bahrain by

the Abdul Qais Rabi'a tribe. They returned to Yemen and allied themselves with the Himyarites who installed them

as a vassal kingdom that ruled Central Arbia from "Qaryah Dhat Kahl" (the present-day called Qaryat al-Faw) in

Central Arabia. They ruled much of the Northern/Central Arabian peninsula, till they were destroyed by the

Lakhmid kingAl-Mundhir, and his son 'Amr

Islamic [ edit source | edit beta ]

Further information: Muslim conquests

Arab Caliphate [ edit source | edit beta ]

Rashidun Era (632-661)

Main article: Rashidun Caliphate

After the death ofMuhammad in 632, Rashidun

armies launched campaigns of conquest, establishing the Caliphate,orIslamic Empire, one of the largest empires in history. It was larger and

lasted longer than the previous Arab empires ofQueen Mawia or

the Palmyrene Empire which was predominantly Syriac rather than Arab.

The Rashidun state was a completely new state and not a mere imitation

of the earlier Arab kingdoms such as the Himyarite, Lakhmids or

Ghassanids, although it benefited greatly from their art, administration and

architecture.

Umayyad Era (661-750)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himyaritehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmyrene_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavia_(queen)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_empireshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Amr_III_ibn_al-Mundhirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mundhir_III_ibn_al-Nu'manhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinditeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-110http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himyarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinditeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Hirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanukhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakhmidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia_Magnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia_Petraeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Diony-109http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia_Felixhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria_(Roman_province)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinditeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakhmidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinditeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakhmidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatar_Harabesihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulayyilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataeanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_expansion_of_Caliphate.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_expansion_of_Caliphate.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Khaznehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Al_Khazneh.jpg


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The Mosque of Uqba also know n as the

Great Mosque of Kairouan w as founded in

670 by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi ; it is

the oldest mosque in the Arab

Maghrib[111]and represents an architectural

testimony of the Arab conquest of North

Af rica, city ofKairouan, Tunisia.

View of theAlhambra from the Mirador

de San Nicols in the Albaycin of Granada.

Main article: Umayyad Caliphate

In 661 Caliphate turned to the hands of

theUmayyad dynasty, Damascus was established as the Muslim capital.

They were proud of their Arab ancestry and sponsored the poetry and

culture of pre-Islamic Arabia. They established garrison towns

at Ramla, ar-Raqqah, Basra, Kufa,Mosul and Samarra, all of which

developed into major cities.[112]

CaliphAbd al-Malik established Arabic as the Caliphate's official languagein 686.[113] This reform greatly influenced the conquered non-Arab peoples

and fueled theArabization of the region. However, the Arabs' higher status

among non-Arab Muslim converts and the latter's obligation to pay heavy

taxes caused resentment. Caliph Umar II strove to resolve the conflict

when he came to power in 717. He rectified the situation, demanding that

all Muslims be treated as equals, but his intended reforms did not take

effect as he died after only three years of rule. By now, discontent with the

Umayyads swept the region and an uprising occurred in which

theAbbasidscame to power and moved the capital to Baghdad.

Umayyads expanded their Empire westwards capturing North Africa from

the Byzantines. Prior to the Arab conquest, North Africa was inhibited by

various people including Punics, Vandals and Greeks. It was not until the

11th century that the Maghreb saw a large influx of ethnic Arabs. Starting

with the 11th century, the Arab bedouin Banu Hilal tribes migrated to the

West. Having been sent by the Fatimids to punish the BerberZirids for

abandoning Shiism, they travelled westwards. The Banu Hilal quickly

defeated the Zirids and deeply weakened the neighboring Hammadids.

Their influx was a major factor in the Arabization of the Maghreb, Although

Berbers would rule the region until the 16th century (under such powerful

dynasties as theAlmoravids, theAlmohads, Hafsids, etc.), the arrival of these tribes would eventually help to Arabize

much of it ethnically in addition to the linguistic and political impact on the none-Arabs there. With the collapse of the

Umayyad state in 1031 AD, Islamic Spain was divided into small kingdoms.

See also:Abbadid, Taifa, Nasrid, Zengid dynasty, andIkhshidid dynasty

Abbassid Era (750-1513)

Main article:Abbasid Caliphate

Abbasids let a revolt against the Umayyads and defeated them in the Battle of the Zabeffectively ending their rule in

all part of the Empire except Al-Andalus. The Abbasids descendants of Muhammad's uncleAbbas, but unlike the

Umayyads, they had the support of non-Arab subjects of the Umayyads.

[112]

where Umayyads treated non-Arabs incontempt. Abbasids ruled for 200 years before they lost their central control when Wilayas began to fracture,

afterwards in the 1190s there was a revival for their power which was put to end by the Mongols who conquered

Baghdad and killed the Caliph, members of the Abbasid royal family escaped the massacre and resorted to Cairo,

which fractured from the Abbasid rule two years earlier, the Mamluk generals were taking the political side of the

kingdom while Abbasid Caliphs were engaged in civil activities and continued patronizing science, arts and literature.

Fractured Entities:

Fatimids

Ayyubid dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyubid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilayahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Lunde-112http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E2%80%98Abbas_ibn_%E2%80%98Abd_al-Muttalibhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Andalushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Zabhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhshidid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zengid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasridhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taifahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbadidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Andalushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafsidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almohadshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almoravidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammadidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziridshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimidshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banu_Hilalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-113http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd_al-Malik_ibn_Marwanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Lunde-112http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samarrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar-Raqqahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramlahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alhambra_view.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alhambra_view.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kairouanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-111http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque_of_Uqbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kairouan_Mosque_Courtyard.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kairouan_Mosque_Courtyard.jpg


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Arab f amily ofRamallah, Ottoman Syriain

early 1900s

The Kaaba, located in Mecca (SaudiArabia) is the center of Islam. It is w here the

able Muslims from all over the w orld travel

to, in order to perform Umrah and Hajj

Ottoman Caliphate [ edit source | edit beta ]

Arabs were ruled by Ottoman sultans from 1513 to 1918. Ottomans

defeated the Mamluk Sultanate in Cairo, and ended the Abbasid Caliphate

when they choose to bear the title ofCaliph. Arabs did not feel the change

of administration because Ottomans modeled their rule after the previous

Arab administration systems.[ci tation needed] AfterWorld War I when

the Ottoman Empire was overthrown by theBritish Empire, former

Ottoman colonies were divided up between the British and French asMandates.

Modern [ edit source | edit beta ]

Arabs in modern times live in the Arab world, which comprises 22

countries in the Middle East and North Africa. They are all modern states

and became significant as distinct political entities after the fall

and dissolution of the Ottoman Empire (19081918).

Religion [ edit source | edit beta ]

Main articles:Arabian mythology,Arab Muslims, andArab Christians

Arab Muslims are generally Sunni orShia, one exception being the Ibadis, who predominate in Oman and can be

found as small minorities in Algeria and Libya (mostly Berbers).Arab Christ ians generally follow Eastern

Churches such as the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches, though minority ofProtestant Church followers

also exist; The Copts and the Maronites, who are often associated with Arab people as well, follow Coptic

Church andMaronite Church accordingly. In Iraq most Christians areAssyrians rather than Arabs, and follow

theAssyrian Church of the East, Syriac Orthodox and Chaldean Church.[114][115] The Greek Catholic churches and

Maronite church are under the Pope of Rome, and a part of the larger worldwide Catholic Church. There are also Arab

communities consisting ofDruze andBaha'is.[116][117]

Ancient times [ edit source | edit beta ]

Before the coming of Islam, most Arabs followed a pagan religion with a

number of deities, including Hubal,[118]Wadd,Allt,[119]Manat, andUzza.

A few individuals, the hanifs, had apparently rejected polytheism in favor

ofmonotheism unaffiliated with any particular religion. Some tribes had

converted to Christianity or Judaism. The most prominent Arab Christian

kingdoms were the Ghassanid and Lakhmidkingdoms.[120] When

the Himyarite king converted to Judaism in the late 4th century,[121]the

elites of the other prominent Arab kingdom, the Kindites, being Himyirite

vassals, apparently also converted (at least partly). With the expansion of

Islam, polytheistic Arabs were rapidlyIslamized, and polytheistic traditions

gradually disappeared.[122][123]

Islam [ edit source | edit beta ]

Today, Sunni Islam dominates in most areas, overwhelmingly so in North Africa. Shia Islam is dominant among the

Arab population in southern Iraq and Lebanon. Substantial Shi'a populations exist in Saudi

Arabia,[124]Kuwait, Bahrain, northern Syria, the al-Batinah region in Oman, and in northern Yemen.

Druze faith [ edit source | edit beta ]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwaithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Shia-124http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-EncyRe-123http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-MSNU-122http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinditeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Hima-121http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himyaritehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Marib-120http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakhmidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanifhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzzahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%C4%81thttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-autogenerated1-119http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-l%C4%81thttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Hubal-118http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-117http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-116http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baha'ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-115http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Christi-114http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldean_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Orthodoxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_Church_of_the_Easthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maronite_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroniteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodoxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Christianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Christianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Ottoman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=18http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=18http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=17http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=17http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=16http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=16http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajjhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umrahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meccahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaabahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beyt-i_Haram.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beyt-i_Haram.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramallahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peasant_Family_of_Ramallah_1900-1910.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peasant_Family_of_Ramallah_1900-1910.jpg


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Isaac of Nineveh a

Bahrani bishop and

theologian, 7th century

Indian British Mandate police

duringNebi Musa riots searching Arabs

against the Zionist Jews in Jerusalem.

The Druze community is concentrated in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Jordan. Many Druzeclaim independence from

other major religions in the area and consider their religion more of a philosophy. Their books of worship are

called Kitab Al Hikma (Epistles of Wisdom). They believe in reincarnation and pray to five messengers from God. In

Israel, the Druze have astatus aparte from the general Arab population, treated as a separate ethno-religious

community.

Christianity [ edit source | edit beta ]

Christians make up 5.5% of the population of the Middle East.[21] A sizeable share ofthose are Arab Christians proper, and affiliated populations of Copts and Maronites. In

Lebanon Christians number about 39% of the population. [125] In Syria, Christians

make up 16% of the population.[126] In West Bankand in Gaza Strip, Arab Christians

made up 8% and 0.8% of the populations, respectively (correct for 2011). [127][128] In

Egypt, Coptic Christians number about 10% of the population. In Iraq, Christians

constitute today up 3-4%, the number dropped from over 5% after Iraq war, however

only a few of these are Arabs.[129] In Israel, Arab Christians constitute 2.1% (roughly

9% of the Arab population).[130] Arab Christians make up 8% of the population

ofJordan.[131] Most North andSouth American Arabs are Christian,[132] as are about

half of Arabs inAustralia who come particularly from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine.One well known member of this religious and ethnic community is Saint Abo, martyr

and the patron saint ofTbilisi, Georgia.[133]

Judaism [ edit source | edit beta ]

Main articles: Jewish tribes of Arabia andArab Jews

The Jewish tribes of Arabia were Arabian tribes professing the Jewish

faith that inhabited theArabian Peninsula before and during the advent

ofIslam. It is not always clear whether they were originally Israelitein

ancestry, genealogically Arab tribes that converted to Judaism, or a mixture

of both. In Islamic tradition the Jewish tribes of the Hejaz were seen as the

offspring of the ancient Israelites.[134] According to Muslim sources, they

spoke a language other than Arabic, whichAl-Tabari claims was Persian.

This implies they were connected to the major Jewish center

in Babylon.[135] Certain Jewish traditions records the existence of nomadic

tribes such as theRechabites that converted to Judaism in antiquity. The

tribes collapsed with the rise of Islam, with many either converting or fleeing

the Arab peninsula. Some of those tribes are thought to have merged

intoYemenite Jewish community, while others, like the residents

ofYatta consider themselves Islamized descendants ofKhaybar, a Jewish

tribe of Arabia.

Prior to the massive Sephardic emigrations to the Middle East in the 16th and

17th centuries, the Jewish communities of what are today Syria, Iraq, Israel,

Lebanon, Egypt and Yemen were known by other Jewish communities

as Musta'arabi Jews or "like Arabs". Also, prior to the emergence of the term Mizrahi, the term "Arab Jews" was

sometimes used to describe Jews living in the Arab world. [ci tation needed] From the late 1940s to the early 1960s,

following the creation of the state of Israel, most of descendants of these Jews fled or were expelled from their

countries of birth and now live in Israel, France or elsewhere. The few remaining Jews in the Arab countries reside

mostly in Morocco and Tunisia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_exodus_from_Arab_countrieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Jewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musta'arabi_Jewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaybarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatta,_Hebronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemenite_Jewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rechabitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-135http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Tabarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-134http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeliteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hejazhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Peninsulahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_tribes_of_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Jewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_tribes_of_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-133http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tbilisihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abo_of_Tiflishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-AAIUSA-132http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-WFJord-131http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-WFIS-130http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-129http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-WFGaza-128http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-WFWest-127http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Striphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-WFSyria-126http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-WFLebanon-125http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_people#cite_note-Pacini-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitab_Al_Hikmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=20http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=20http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&veaction=edit&section=19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_people&action=edit&section=19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1920_Nebi_Musa_riotshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Image-Jerusalem_riots_april_1920_police_controle_of_arabs_civilians.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Image-Jerusalem_riots_april_1920_police_controle_of_arabs_civilians.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_of_Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isaac_the_Syrian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isaac_the_Syrian.jpg


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Khalid A. Al-Falih, President and CEOof Saudi Aramco.

Modern Jews from Arab countries mainly Mizrahi Jews, Yemenite Jews and Maghrebi Jews are today usually not

categorized as Arab, though there is still some debate on whether or not the term "Arabs" can be applied to them.

Sociologist Sammy Smooha stated "This ("Arab Jews") term does not hold water. It is absolutely not a parallel to

'Arab Christian'".[136]Those who dispute the historicity of the term make the claim that Middle Eastern Jews are

similar to Kurds,Assyrians, Berbers and other ancient Middle Eastern groups, who lived among the Arab societies

as distinct minority groups with distinct identity and therefore are not categorized as Arabs. On the other hand,

others gives examples of periods where the term "Arab-Jews" was applied in one form or another. Sociologist Philip

Mendes asserts that before the anti-Jewish actions of the 1930s and 1940s, overall Iraqi Jews "viewed themselves as

Arabs of the Jewish faith, rather than as a separate race or nationality".[137][better source needed]

Urbanization [ edit source | edit beta ]

Dozens of large cities and hundreds of towns reflect pronounced urban

character of theArab world. This urbanization is due in part to the discovery

of oil on theArabian Peninsula. Owned by the Saudi Arabian

Government, Saudi Aramco is a fully integrated, global petroleum enterprise

and a world leader in the exploration, production, refining, distribution,

shipping and marketing of oil and gas. The company manages proven

conventional reserves of 260 billion barrels of oil and manages the fourthlargest gas reserves in the world, 263 trillion cubic feet.

In addition to its headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco has

affiliates, joint ventures and subsidiary offices in China, Japan, India,

theNetherlands, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, theUnited Arab Emirates,

the United Kingdom and theUnited States.

Saudi Aramco produces five grades of crude oil, Arabian Super Light (ASL),

Arabian Extra Light (AXL), Arabian Light (AL), Arabian Medium (AM) and

Arabian Heavy (AH), thus satisfying the needs of all of their customers and

partners around the world. Through the years, Saudi Aramco has discoveredover 100 oil and gas fields in the Kingdom; among them is Ghawar; the

worlds largest onshore oil field and Safaniya; the worlds largest offshore

field. Ghawar field holds over 100 billion barrels and Safaniya holds over 50

billi

arabs - who are they

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