Islam and Geography Copyright © Clara Kim All rights reserved.

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

Pictures Cited Slide 1 – Slide 2 – Slide 3 – Slide 4 – Slide 5 – _16108.jpg&imgrefurl= 6&hl=en&start=47&tbnid=d8wpLNkBEWKXgM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsaudi %2Barabian%2Bbedouin%26start%3D36%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3 Den%26sa%3DN Slide 6 – Slide 7 – Slide 10 – Slide 11 – 612px-Mecca,_Saudi_Arabia_locator_map.png Slide