The traditional inhabitants of Arabia

Arabs are a branch of Semitic people, and they are the last Semitic people stranded in the hometown of Arabian Peninsula. In pre-Islamic times, Arabs were divided into southerners and northerners. Southern Arabs mainly live in the rich southwest of Yemen and its nearby coastal areas. They developed agricultural production very early, engaged in commercial trade, and established some cities with high economic and cultural level. Northern Arabs mainly live in nomadic industry, living in Hijaz and inland areas and living a commune life at the end of primitive society. They live on weeds and wander all the year round. Camels and dates play an important role in their lives. Camel is an important tool for transportation, trade and combat, and it is called "a ship in the desert". Camel meat can be eaten, camel milk can drink, camel skin can be used as clothes, camel hair can be used as tents, camel dung can be used as fuel, and camel urine can protect skin and repel mosquitoes. More importantly, camels can endure a dry and water-deficient desert life. Dates are their important food and camel feed. After soaking jujube in water and fermenting, it can be made into sweet and delicious beverage. Jujube bark can be used to make ropes, and trunk can be used as building materials. In addition, horses also play an important role in the lives of Arabs and are indispensable combat tools for Arab cavalry. At this time, in the eyes of civilized neighbors, the Arabian Peninsula was a remote place for nomadic barbarians.

With the increase of private property, Arab society is increasingly divided, and wars of plunder and revenge between clans and tribes emerge one after another. War has become a noble cause for men to boast of honor and remember their ancestors. Their folk songs sing: We rob our enemies and neighbors as our profession. If no one lets us plunder, we will plunder our brothers. The endless clan and tribal wars have intensified the contradictions and oppositions in Arab society and promoted the transition of Arab clan society from barbarism to civilization.