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Rich Culture Despite 'Ignorance' Label
- Pre-Islamic Arabia was a populous, interconnected region with a rich poetic and cultural tradition.
- It served as a vital commercial link between Mediterranean and Persian empires despite being labeled a period of ignorance in Islamic historiography.
Arabia’s Ancient Global Connections
- Ancient Mediterranean powers deeply influenced Arabia since at least the Bronze Age.
- The region’s ports and caravan routes connected Africa and the Indian Ocean to Greek, Roman, and Persian markets.
Ancient Views of Arabs Were Biased
- Roman and Greek sources often depicted Arabs as nomadic bandits and barbarians.
- Despite these stereotypes, Arabs had complex societies, including settled civilizations like the Nabataeans.