The Arabs
The Arabs (Arabic: برَعَ, DIN 31635: ʿarab , Arabic pronunciation:[a] [ˈʕa.rab] ( listen)), also known
as Arab people (Arabic: ي ِبرََعلْا بَ ْعَّشلا), are an ethnic group[b] mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West
Asia and North Africa, which formally denotes the "Arab homeland".[72] Moreover, a significant Arab
diaspora is present in various parts of the world.[73]
According to the Abrahamic tradition, Arabs are descendants of Abraham, with his son Ishmael. Ishmael
had twelve sons, each of whom became a tribal chief in one of the regions
from Havilah to Shur (from ancient Mesopotamia to the east of Egypt).[74] Arabs have been in the Fertile
Crescent for thousands of years.[75] In the 9th century BCE, the Assyrians made written references to
Arabs as inhabitants of the Levant, Mesopotamia, and, Arabia.[76] Throughout the ancient Near East,
Arabs established influential civilizations starting from 3000 BCE onwards, such
as Dilmun, Gerrha and, Magan, playing a vital role in trade between Mesopotamia, and
the Mediterranean.[77] Other prominent tribes include Midian, ʿĀd, and Thamud mentioned in
the Bible and Quran. The Amorites, likely originating from Arabia, emerged around 2100 BCE in the
Levant and Mesopotamia.[78] Around 1300 BCE, the Edomites were found adjacent to Moab in
the southern Levant.[79] Later, in 900 BCE, the Qedarites where enjoyed close relations with the
nearby Canaanite and Aramaean states, and their territory extended from Lower Egypt to the Southern
Levant.[80] From 1200 BCE to 110 BCE, powerful Arab kingdoms such
as Saba, Lihyan, Minaean, Qataban, Hadhramaut, Awsan, and Homerite emerged in Arabia.[81]
During Classical antiquity, the Nabataeans established their Kingdom with Petra as the capital in 300
BCE,[82] by 271 CE, the Palmyrene Empire with the capital Palmyra, led by Queen Zenobia, encompassed
the Syria Palaestina, Arabia Petraea, and Egypt, as well as large parts of Anatolia.[83] The
Arab Itureans inhabited Lebanon, Syria, and northern Palestine (Galilee) during the Hellenistic and
Roman periods.[84] The Osroene and Hatran were Arab kingdoms in Upper Mesopotamia around 200
CE.[85] In 164 CE, the Sasanians recognized the Arabs as " Arbayistan ", meaning "land of the Arabs,"[86] as
they were part of Adiabene in upper Mesopotamia.[87] The Arab Emesenes ruled by 46
BCE Emesa (Homs), Syria.[88] During late antiquity, the Tanukhids, Salihids, Lakhmids, Kinda,
and Ghassanids were dominant Arab tribes in the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Arabia, they predominantly
embraced Christianity.[89] During the Middle Ages, Islam fostered a vast Arab union, leading to significant
Arab migration from the East, extremely to North Africa, under the rule of Arab empires such as
the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid, ultimately leading to the decline of
the Byzantine and Sasanian empires. At its peak, Arab territories stretched
from southern France to eastern China, forming one of history's largest empires.[90] The Great Arab
Revolt in the early 20th century, aided in dismantling the Ottoman Empire, ultimately leading to the
formation of the Arab League on 22 March 1945, with its Charter endorsing the principle of a "unified
Arab homeland".[91]
Arabs share a common bond based on
ethnicity, language, culture, history, identity, ancestry, nationalism, geography, unity,
and politics.[92] They also have their own customs, literature, music, dance, media, food, clothing,
society, sports, architecture, art and, mythology.[93] Arabs have significantly influenced and contributed
to human progress in many fields,
including science, technology, philosophy, ethics, literature, politics, business, art, music, comedy,
theatre, cinema, architecture, food, medicine, and religion.[94] Before Islam, most Arabs