State and society in pre-islamic arabia
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Arabia Variata

• Most Arabians sedentary – way of life far from uniform, depending mainly on climate – Happy Felix in Yemen dry-farming – collection of water from irrigation, sophisticated collection structures.
• Agricultural prosperity provided foundation for independent South Arabian civilisation + mercantile prosperity means to elaborate that civilisation to a high level of sophistication.  Many simple farmers and herders, unlikely much export, complex enough to release artisans and commerce. Same people who founded various kingdoms.
• Although many kingdoms inscriptions show similar dialects and religion (Astral deities) – political institutions show similar development from theocracy of priest-kings – to kingships etc.  Similar social structure – nobles lord it over tribes.
• Arabia Felix – only region whose productivity large enough to permit development of an indigenous civilisation that radiated outwards from its South Arabian centre over peninsula.
• Lack of water led to areas of intensive cultivation near to supply – Oases – some of which big enough to support artisans, merchants, religious leaders - not part of agric labour force.  Many in western and north western Arabia  - Hijaz region – Yathrib (medina) etc - plenty in East
• Water not only reasons – cultic or trading reasons (Daydan Hizaz), or Mecca (cultic) – into metropolis etc.
• Northern and central Arabian small and sparsely populated settlements – no one had time to perform cultural activities necessary for development of independent cultural civilisation.   Only signs of civilisation are more than likely borrowed from other nearby civilisation.
• Nomadic people; goats, sheep, camels – occupation of land was rhythmic, periodic and extensive.  Nomadic people far outnumbered by sedentary peoples.
• Within nomadic people – different type – seminomads and nomadic pastoralism – dependent on living conditions.
• Little room of specialisation is essentially subsistence-based life – no class of merchants, artisans.  Developed culturally, and pride in marital virtue as well as in raiding parties etc.
• Semi-nomadism more prevalent – settled plains of Mesopotamia and ten in winter to get winter grasses of desert.
• Many semi-nomads  - once full nomads, camel herders, but shifted out by powerful nomad tribes
• Behaviour and characteristics of group changed with climate, land use, density of population, taxes, and political shifts.
• Semi nomads in continual flux between more nomadic and more sedentary life.  Marginal existence means very little specialisation.  Cultural life – restricted to portable forms – poetry ad pottery.

Other Notes in this Category

1. A tribal society
2. Abu Bakr and Ridda wars
3. Causes of Islamic Conquest
4. Conclusions
5. Economics and Social Relations
6. Foundations of the islamic conquest
7. Introductory Points
8. muhammad’s consolidation
9. Muhammad’s Teachings
10. Political life in northern and central arabia
11. Religious Aristocracies
12. State and society in pre-islamic arabia
13. The early islamic world – patricia crone
14. The New Ruling Elite
15. The State and the Nomads
16. Tribe and state in arabia

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