History of the Arabian Peninsula

Study Notes

Arabian Peninsula History

The Arabian Peninsula was occupied by several civilizations before Islam including: the wealthy Sabean civilization, Babylonians, and Egyptians.
The Arabian peninsula eventually united under the caliphs of Muhammad and became the cradle of Islam.
Mecca and Medina are Islam's holiest cities.
Arabs are people from Saudi Arabia, they are descendants of indigenous tribes and still tribally affiliated.
Arabic is the official language.
Riyadh and Jeddah are oil-producing areas with Riyadh being the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy with Islamic Law (Sharia) as its constitution.
The Majalis serves as a forum where citizens can directly submit grievances and requests for aid to the King during regular audiences.
The Minean Kingdom existed in southwestern Arabia during the 12th century B.C.
The Sabean and Himyarite Kingdoms were loose federations of city-states that existed until the 6th century B.C.
Ibn Saud, a follower of the strict Wahhabi sect of Islam, successfully unified the Nejd, Hasa, and Hejaz regions in 1902.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was established in 1932 with Saud as King.
King Faizal replaced the Saud family and began modernizing the country. He was assassinated by a nephew.
Khaled succeeded Faizal and rejected the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty but followed a moderate policy during the Arab-Israeli dispute.
Crown Prince Fahd assumed the throne after Khaled's death.

Arabian Literature

The collection of the Koran in the 7th century A.D. brought Arabian literature into prominence.
The spread of Islamic faith into Asia, Africa, and Europe made Arabic a major world language.
Arabian literature was highly developed during the pre-Islamic period, with poetry being a prominent form.
Poems were orally transmitted from generation to generation.
The most famous examples are the elaborated odes, or qasidahs, of the Mu’allagat (the suspended ones), beginning with those of Imru’ Alqais.
These poems praised and reflected the customs and values of the desert environment where they originated.
Arabian literature is divided into periods reflecting the dynastic changes and divisions within the Islamic world.

Umayyad Period (A.D. 661-750)

This period saw the emergence of Arabic Prose literature, which was primarily limited to grammatical treatises, commentaries on the Koran, and collections of stories about Muhammad and his companions.
Umayyad poets, like al-Akhtal and al-Farazdaq, introduced new poetic forms, including love lyrics (called ghazals), wine songs, and hunting poems.
These new forms reflected the conditions of life and manners in the territories conquered by Islam.

Abbasid Empire (750 – 1258)

The early years of this period saw the invention of many forms of Arabic literature, marking its most prolific period of development and achievement.
Persian influences contributed significantly, including translation from Persian texts.
Ibn al-Muqaffa led to a new refinement in Arabic prose, known as adab.
Key masters of adab: Jahiz and al-Hariri.

Arabian Nights

Popularly known as The Thousand and One Nights.
Drew upon the recitations of wandering storytellers called rawis.

Important Poets

Abu Nuwas (d.c. 810) was acknowledged as a foremost poet for his utilization of Arabic language with greater freedom and imagination.
Al-Maarri and al-Mutanabi were recognized as the greatest poets for excelling in both experimental and classical traditions.
Spain developed an independent poetic tradition, reaching its peak with the exquisite lyrics of Ibn Zaydun and Ibn Quzman.

The Romance of Antar

The closest work to an epic in Arabic.

Modern Period

During centuries of Ottoman Turkish domination, Arabic literature declined.
The "nahdah" (reawakening), an intellectual movement starting in the mid-19th century, revived Arabic literature.
The "nahdah" originated in Syria and spread to Egypt.

Notable Arabic writers:

Novelists, dramatists, and essayists: Tawfig al-Hakim, Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz, Taha Husayn.
Poets: Ihiya Abu Madi, Adonis, Ahmad Shawq, Abu Shadi, Abbas al Aqqad

Arabic Prose

Saj, also known as "rhymed prose," is a prominent characteristic of Arabic prose, consisting of a succession of pairs of short rhyming expressions.
This creates a rhetorical and antithetical balance of sense between the expressions, along with a loose rhythmical balance unbound by strict meter.
Khutbah, a formal written style in rhymed prose, dates back to antiquity and was used for religious verses in the early stages of Islam.
Ibn Nubatah at-Farigi is one of the most celebrated later proponents of Khutbah.

Important works

Kalila wa Dimna, a translation from a Pahlavi version of the Indian fable, Panchantra, is the most celebrated work of Ibn Muqaffa.
Writers, essayists, and critics during the golden age of Arabic prose (17th-19th century include: al-Jahiz, Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi, Ibn Qucaybah, and Abual-‘alaal-Ma’arri.

Description

Explore the rich history of the Arabian Peninsula, from ancient civilizations such as the Sabeans and Babylonians to the rise of Islam and the establishment of modern Saudi Arabia. This quiz covers notable cities, the influence of monarchy, and the cultural significance of Arabic traditions. Test your knowledge on key historical events and figures that shaped this region.