Introduction
Much of contemporary studies on the Middle East bear strong connections with the Islamic religion, which pervades throughout the entirety of the region due to the historical prevalence of the doctrines preached by the prophet Muhammad. Yet, it is also noteworthy to recognize the fact that the Middle East has also flourished as a region without the influences of Muhammad – that is, the period before the birth and activity of Muhammad has also involved notable points of study. Hence, this particular story focuses on this key question: how was the Middle East before Muhammad existed? A perusal of relevant literature provides key insights on life in the Middle East before the introduction of Islam, stating whether things have significantly changed after said religion has spread throughout the region or not.
Pre-Islamic History of the Middle East
The Thamud
Around 3,000 to 200 BCE, a tribe emerged in Arabia called the Thamud whose main legacy consists of rock engravings in parts of central Arabia and Yemen. Various sources of literature have cited the existence of the Thamud, the most notable ones being the Koran and some Arabian poems. Yet, perhaps the most notable account on the Thamud comes from the recorded victories of the king of Neo-Assyria, Sargon II, who sought to occupy their lands after he and his troops have defeated them. The Thamud did not last long to experience the emergence of Islam (Berkey, 2003).
Various kingdoms in its northern and southern portions divided the Arabian Peninsula. Among the most notable kingdoms in north Arabia are the Qedar kingdom and the Achaemenids. The Qedar, which occupied the area covering Sinai and the Persian Gulf, have grown in significant importance due to their antagonism against the Assyrian Empire. Historical records suggest that the Qedar eventually became part of the Nabateans at around the year 100 (Bulliet, 1990). In portions of Mesopotamia and northern Egypt lie the areas where the Achaemenids have flourished. There is an understanding that Darius the Great was the one responsible for invading those portions of Arabia, as suggested by the Behistun transcription (Goldschmidt, 1983). In south Arabia, the Himyar Kingdom stood as a dominant force, whose occupied portions include access to the Red Sea and the Arabian Desert. The Himyar engaged in various conflicts with different tribes, which include the Aksumites and the Sassanids. Verily, south Arabia has constantly experienced various conflicts with different kingdoms, which did not exactly feature a single dominating one (Berkey, 2003).
The existence of various kingdoms that populated the Arabian Peninsula has brought forth the possibility of pre-Islamic religions. A book called “The Biography of the Prophet” tells the thoughts of a particularly unnamed prophet whose works have also gone through passive mentions in the Koran and other oral traditions. The nomadic nature of some Arab factions during that time has opened for greater transparency. The Byzantine-Sassanid Wars served as the turning point towards the emergence of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. Islamic forces have actually destroyed the Sassanid Empire, which followed an era of Muslim rule in the region (Bulliet, 1990).
Conclusion
Prior to the establishment of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, it is noteworthy to state the existence of various kingdoms in the area, which gives the idea that Arabs are not yet a consolidated people back then. Yet, the prevalence of Islam serves as the main tool for consolidation of Arabs in the region, which eventually grouped scattered territories into bigger groups. Therefore, there is a great difference with the various sociocultural realities before Islam than that of now.
References
Berkey, J. (2003). The formation of Islam: Religion and society in the Near East, 600-1800. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Bulliet, R. (1990). The camel and the wheel. New York City, NY: Columbia University Press.
Goldschmidt, A. (1983). A concise history of the Middle East. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
