What is the Arab world and how did it develop? This article will focus on its culture and the development of science, history and features of the worldview. What was it like several centuries ago and what does the Arab world look like today? What modern states are attributed to it today?
The essence of the concept of "Arab world"
This concept means a certain geographical region, consisting of the countries of northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East, inhabited by Arabs (a group of peoples). In each of them, Arabic is the official language (or one of the official languages, as in Somalia).
The total area of the Arab world is approximately 13 million km22, making it the second largest geolinguistic unit on the planet (after Russia).
The Arab world should not be confused with the term "Muslim world", used exclusively in a religious context, as well as with an international organization called the League of Arab States, created in 1945.
Geography of the Arab world
Which states of the planet are usually included in the Arab world? The photo below gives a general idea.about its geography and structure.
So, the Arab world includes 23 states. Moreover, two of them are partially not recognized by the world community (they are marked with asterisks in the list below). About 345 million people live in these states, which is no more than 5% of the total world population.
All countries in the Arab world are listed below, in order of decreasing population. This is:
- Egypt.
- Morocco.
- Algeria.
- Sudan.
- Saudi Arabia.
- Iraq.
- Yemen.
- Syria.
- Tunisia.
- Somalia.
- Jordan.
- Libya.
- UAE.
- Lebanon.
- Palestine.
- Mauritania.
- Oman.
- Kuwait.
- Qatar.
- Comoros.
- Bahrain.
- Djibouti.
- Western Sahara.
The largest cities in the Arab world are Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad, Mecca, Rabat, Algiers, Riyadh, Khartoum, Alexandria.
Essay on the ancient history of the Arab world
The history of the development of the Arab world began long before the rise of Islam. In those ancient times, the peoples that today are an integral part of this world still communicated in their own languages (although they were related to Arabic). Information about what was the history of the Arab world in antiquity, we can draw from Byzantine or ancient Roman sources. Of course, looking through the lens of time can be quite distorted.
The ancient Arab world was perceived by highly developed states (Iran,Roman and Byzantine Empire) poor and semi-savage. In their view, it was a desert land with a small and nomadic population. In fact, the nomads were an overwhelming minority, and most of the Arabs led a settled way of life, gravitating towards the valleys of small rivers and oases. After the domestication of the camel, caravan trade began to develop here, which for many inhabitants of the planet became the reference (template) image of the Arab world.
The first beginnings of statehood arose in the north of the Arabian Peninsula. Even earlier, according to historians, the ancient state of Yemen was born, in the south of the peninsula. However, the contacts of other powers with this formation were minimal due to the presence of a huge desert several thousand kilometers long.
The Arab-Muslim world and its history are well described in Gustave Lebon's book "The History of Arab Civilization". It was published in 1884, it was translated into many languages of the world, including Russian. The book is based on the author's independent travels in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Arab world in the Middle Ages
In the VI century, the Arabs already made up the majority of the population of the Arabian Peninsula. Soon the Islamic religion is born here, after which the Arab conquests begin. In the 7th century, a new state formation began to take shape - the Arab Caliphate, which spread over vast expanses from Hindustan to the Atlantic, from the Sahara to the Caspian Sea.
Numerous tribes and peoples of northern Africa very quickly assimilated into Arab culture, easily acceptingtheir language and religion. In turn, the Arabs absorbed some elements of their culture.
If in Europe the Middle Ages was marked by the decline of science, then in the Arab world it was actively developing at that time. This applied to many of its industries. Algebra, psychology, astronomy, chemistry, geography and medicine reached their maximum development in the medieval Arab world.
The Arab Caliphate existed for a relatively long time. In the 10th century, the processes of feudal fragmentation of a great power began. Ultimately, the once unified Arab Caliphate disintegrated into many separate countries. Most of them in the XVI century became part of another empire - the Ottoman Empire. In the 19th century, the lands of the Arab world became colonies of European states - Britain, France, Spain and Italy. To date, they have all become independent and sovereign countries again.
Features of the culture of the Arab world
The culture of the Arab world cannot be imagined without the Islamic religion, which has become its integral part. So, unshakable faith in Allah, veneration of the Prophet Muhammad, fasting and daily prayers, as well as pilgrimage to Mecca (the main shrine for every Muslim) are the main "pillars" of the religious life of all the inhabitants of the Arab world. Mecca, by the way, was a holy place for the Arabs in pre-Islamic times.
Islam, according to researchers, is in many ways similar to Protestantism. In particular, he also does not condemn we alth, and the commercial activity of a person is evaluated from the point of view ofmorality.
In the Middle Ages, it was in Arabic that a huge number of works on history were written: annals, chronicles, biographical dictionaries, etc. With special trepidation in Muslim culture, they treated (and still treat) the image of the word. The so-called Arabic script is not just a calligraphic script. The beauty of the written letters among the Arabs is equated to the ideal beauty of the human body.
Traditions of Arabic architecture are no less interesting and noteworthy. The classical type of Muslim temple with mosques was formed in the 7th century. It is a closed (deaf) rectangular courtyard, inside of which a gallery of arches is attached. In that part of the courtyard that faces Mecca, a luxuriously decorated and spacious prayer hall was built, topped with a spherical dome. Above the temple, as a rule, rises one or more sharp towers (minarets), which are designed to call Muslims to prayer.
Among the most famous monuments of Arab architecture are the Umayyad Mosque in Syrian Damascus (VIII century), as well as the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Egyptian Cairo, whose architectural elements are generously decorated with beautiful floral ornaments.
In Muslim temples there are no gilded icons or any images, paintings. But the walls and arches of the mosques are decorated with elegant arabesques. This is a traditional Arabic pattern, consisting of geometric patterns and floral ornaments (it should be noted that the artistic depiction of animals and people is consideredblasphemous in Muslim culture). Arabesques, according to European culturologists, are "afraid of the void." They completely cover the surface and exclude the presence of any colored background.
Philosophy and Literature
Arab philosophy is very closely connected with the Islamic religion. One of the most famous Muslim philosophers is the thinker and physician Ibn Sina (980 - 1037). He is considered the author of at least 450 works on medicine, philosophy, logic, arithmetic and other fields of knowledge.
The most famous work of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is "The Canon of Medicine". Texts from this book have been used for many centuries in various universities in Europe. Another of his works, The Book of Healing, also significantly influenced the development of Arabic philosophical thought.
The most famous literary monument of the medieval Arab world - a collection of fairy tales and stories "A Thousand and One Nights". In this book, researchers have found elements of pre-Islamic Indian and Persian stories. Over the centuries, the composition of this collection has changed, it acquired its final form only in the XIV century.
Development of science in the modern Arab world
In the Middle Ages, the Arab world occupied a leading position on the planet in the field of scientific achievements and discoveries. It was Muslim scientists who "gave" the world algebra, made a huge leap in the development of biology, medicine, astronomy and physics.
However, today the countries of the Arab world pay disastrously little attention to science andeducation. Today, there are just over a thousand universities in these states, and only 312 of them employ scientists who publish their articles in scientific journals. Only two Muslims in history have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Science.
What is the reason for such a striking contrast between "then" and "now"?
Historians have no single answer to this question. Most of them explain this decline in science by the feudal fragmentation of the once unified Arab state (Caliphate), as well as the emergence of various Islamic schools, which provoked more and more disagreements and conflicts. Another reason may be that the Arabs know their own history quite poorly and are not proud of the great successes of their ancestors.
Wars and terrorism in the modern Arab world
Why are the Arabs fighting? The Islamists themselves claim that in this way they are trying to restore the former power of the Arab world and gain independence from Western countries.
It is important to note that the main holy book of Muslims, the Koran, does not deny the possibility of capturing foreign territories and taxing the occupied lands with tribute (this is indicated by the eighth sura "Production"). Besides, weapons have always made it much easier to spread one's religion.
Arabs from ancient times became famous as brave and rather cruel warriors. Neither the Persians nor the Romans dared to fight with them. And desert Arabia did not attract the attention of large empires too much. However, Arab warriors were gladly received onservice in the Roman troops.
After the end of the First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Arab-Muslim civilization plunged into a deep crisis, which historians compare with the Thirty Years' War of the 17th century in Europe. It is obvious that any such crisis sooner or later ends with a surge of radical sentiments and active impulses to revive, return the "golden age" in its history. The same processes are taking place in the Arab world today. So, in Africa, the terrorist organization Boko Haram is rampant, in Syria and Iraq - ISIS. The aggressive activity of the latter entity already goes far beyond the borders of Muslim states.
The modern Arab world is tired of wars, conflicts and clashes. But no one knows for sure how to put out this "fire" yet.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is often called the heart of the Arab-Muslim world today. Here are the main shrines of Islam - the cities of Mecca and Medina. The main (and, in fact, the only) religion in this state is Islam. Representatives of other religions are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia, but they may not be allowed to enter Mecca or Medina. It is also strictly forbidden for "tourists" to demonstrate any symbols of a different faith in the country (for example, wearing crosses, etc.).
In Saudi Arabia, there is even a special "religious" police, the purpose of which is to suppress possible violations of the laws of Islam. Religious criminals awaitthe appropriate punishment ranges from a fine to execution.
Despite all of the above, Saudi diplomats are actively working on the world stage in the interests of protecting Islam, maintain partnerships with Western countries. The state has difficult relations with Iran, which also claims leadership in the region.
Syrian Arab Republic
Syria is another important center of the Arab world. At one time (under the Umayyads), it was in the city of Damascus that the capital of the Arab Caliphate was located. Today, a bloody civil war continues in the country (since 2011). Western human rights organizations often criticize Syria, accusing its leadership of violating human rights, using torture and significantly restricting freedom of speech.
About 85% of the inhabitants of Syria are Muslims. However, "non-believers" have always felt free and quite comfortable here. The laws of the Koran on the territory of the country are perceived by its inhabitants, rather, as traditions.
Arab Republic of Egypt
The largest (by population) country in the Arab world is Egypt. 98% of its inhabitants are Arabs, 90% profess Islam (Sunni). Egypt has a huge number of tombs with Muslim saints, which attract thousands of pilgrims during religious holidays.
Islam in modern Egypt has a significant impact on society. However, Muslim laws here are significantly relaxed and adjusted to the realities of the 21st century. It is interesting to note that mostideologues of the so-called "radical Islam" were educated at Cairo University.
In conclusion…
The Arab world refers to a special historical region roughly covering the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. It geographically includes 23 modern states.
The culture of the Arab world is specific and very closely connected with the traditions and canons of Islam. The modern realities of this region are conservatism, poor development of science and education, the spread of radical ideas and terrorism.
