Islam and
Geography
Deserts
• Only a small strip of fertile land in
south of Saudi Arabia
•Few oases
•The rest is Desert
Bedouins
• Nomads who live in the
desert
• Organized into tribes
and clans
– Clans give security and
support since they live
in extreme conditions
– Defended themselves
from other clans who
wanted water, grazing
territory, livestock or
food supplies
Islamic Way of Life
• Bedouin valued
–Courage
–Loyalty to
family
–Warrior skills
• This would lead to
Islamic way of life
Trade Routes
• Many trade routes connected
Arabia to major ocean and land
trade routes
–Extreme south of the peninsula
–To the Byzantine in the north
–Caravan routes went to the Silk
Roads in the east
–Transported spices to the west
Mecca
• Located in Saudi Arabia
• Important stop on trade routes
• During holy months, caravans
stopped in Mecca and this
brought religious pilgrims who
came to worship at the Kaaba
Kaaba
* Over the years
many different
gods and spirits
were introduced
here
• Had over 360
idols brought by
many tribes