Pre-Islam

Arabs used to identify themselves as a separate ethnic group before advent of Islam.  However, they did not have a self identity as a nation. King Shalmaneser III calls them ‘Arabs’ in Kurkh Stele..  Since then they have been being identified as a distinct ethnic group by foreign historical sources right up to sixth century […]

Pre-Islamic Arabic poetry is a commonly used source to reconstruct the history of pre-Islamic Arabia. Its use as a primary source has been controversial, though.  Skepticism about the use of ancient Arabic poetry as a primary source started as soon as this poetry was translated into English.  There were all sorts of questions.  Were Mu’allaqat

There are four kinds of primary sources available to compile the history of pre-Islamic Arabia. 1:  Inscriptions (naqsh نقش):  They are thousands of texts written by both common people as well as the leaders.  Most of them are engraved on mountain rocks.  Some are on other materials like funerary slabs, lintel and walls of houses,

Arabian Peninsula (Jazīrat ul ‘Arab جَزِيرَةُ العَرَب) is a big chunk of land about 3.25 million square kilometers, roughly equal to the size of India.  In terms of the American continent, it is roughly equal to the combined area of seventeen states of the USA, which are called the Southern United States.  In terms of

Arabian Peninsula (Jazīrat ul ‘Arab جَزِيرَةُ العَرَب) is a big chunk of land.  Its boundaries are pretty fixed on three sides, where it is bound by sea. To the west of it is the Red Sea, to the east is Persian Gulf.  To the south the land is bound by the Arabian sea. Northern boundary