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Y201: The Rise of Islam c.550–750

The Middle East c.550–620: structure of pre-Islamic Arabia and commercial importance of Mecca

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit group 2

Overview

Recall questions on the structure of pre-Islamic Arabia in the mid 6th Century, economic and social issues, religious beliefs in pre-Islamic Arabia, the commercial importance of Mecca.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What were the two main ways of making a living in sixth-century Arabia?

Key term

Describe the religious beliefs of most Arabs before Islam.

Key term

Which monotheistic communities already existed in Arabia before Muhammad's preaching?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How was society in Arabia organised in the middle of the sixth century?

    Model answer

    It was organised around kinship: people belonged to clans grouped into tribes, with no state authority above them, and a sheikh led by the consent of his fellow clan elders rather than by inherited right.

  2. 2

    Explain why the blood feud mattered so much in pre-Islamic Arabia.

    Model answer

    With no government or police to enforce order, the threat that a victim's whole clan would exact vengeance was the main deterrent against violence, so a killing became a debt owed between tribes rather than a crime against an individual.

  3. 3

    What were the two main ways of making a living in sixth-century Arabia?

    Model answer

    Nomadic herding of camels, sheep and goats across the desert pastures, and settled agriculture and trade in the oasis towns such as Mecca, Yathrib and Ta'if.

  4. 4

    Describe the religious beliefs of most Arabs before Islam.

    Model answer

    Most were polytheists who worshipped tribal gods and spirits housed in local shrines, recognising a distant high god, Allah, alongside goddesses such as al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat.

  5. 5

    Which monotheistic communities already existed in Arabia before Muhammad's preaching?

    Model answer

    Jewish tribes were established at Yathrib and other northern oases, and Christian communities existed at Najran and among the Arab tribes bordering the two empires.

  6. 6

    Why was the Ka'ba so important to Mecca's position?

    Model answer

    It was a sanctuary housing the idols of many tribes, so pilgrims came to it from across Arabia, and the Quraysh who guarded it gained both religious prestige and the trade the pilgrimage brought.

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