Arab psychology and mentality. Arabs

Why does the Arab lie?

I have always been amazed at how easily and naturally the Arabs lie.

It's not that it surprises me that people lie, it's interesting that this is part of the national character of the people.

This is the skill, predisposition and ability to speak words that not only do not reflect reality, but are often its complete opposite.

Examples: Israel is a Nazi state, Jews are bloodthirsty killers who kill peaceful Palestinians.

It's interesting that it's not just monstrous lie, but the fact that these definitions are the best suited to the Palestinian Authority and to a significant part of the Palestinians, respectively.

Or here's a smaller caliber lie:

For example, a simple Palestinian Arab, after another terrorist attack, declares that the cause of the terrorist attack is the blockade of territories by Israel, which creates difficult living conditions for the Arabs, and the poor Palestinian just needs to burst.

He does not mention that the blockade was introduced in order to prevent the penetration of terrorists into Israel and is not a cause but a consequence of earlier terrorist attacks.

1) It can be assumed that, due to limitations, he perceives the picture of what is happening in this way, that is, he does not lie. (Which, in my opinion, is very unlikely).

2) He knows the truth, but deliberately lies.

Then, in fact, main question. The roots of this ability and desire to lie? Is it a coincidence that their accusations against Israel and the Jews are often a mirror image of their essence? Do they notice it?

Please answer the question.

It is always difficult to characterize a people as a whole. And in general - any group of people. We must remember that all people are created in the “image and likeness”. True, over the millennia of worshiping idols and all sorts of "powers", and also - as a result of certain historical processes - let's add here the influence of the way of life and various life circumstances - certain stable features are developing among the people.

We must not forget that humanity is not divided into "higher and lower" races. Racism, a derogatory, contemptuous attitude towards any people living on earth today is an unworthy thing and does not elevate the one who is inclined to this and does not cultivate respect for people.

Armed with this introduction, I will answer your question.

For a number of reasons (including very deep, cosmic ones), the Arabs live partly in a world of fantasy. This quality is inherent in any person to some extent, but among the Arabs it manifests itself especially clearly.

In addition (it would probably be more accurate to say “along with this”), the Arabs sincerely do not notice the contradictions between the fantasy that they produce in their minds (often without realizing it) and the “facts of reality”.

A typical example. There are places in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and elsewhere from where, according to their belief, Mohammad “ascended to Heaven.”

With Mohammad, "this happened" only once, but there are many "memorable" places. And this is half the trouble. An ordinary, “normal” Arab can visit several such places (objects of “pilgrimage”) within one or two days and pray in each, without doubting that this is the only place where the “ascension” took placeMohammad. And not to feel the “trick”, as if it were not that even, for example, yesterday he also prayed “on the same occasion” in a completely different place.

Or another, very illustrative example. The Arabs have an expression - inshallah. It means - "if the Almighty wills." Many nations have similar expressions. For example, among the Jews it sounds like this: im yirze hashem". Jews (and people of "European civilization" in general) use this expression, say, in the following context: "I promise to come tomorrow at seven o'clock, if it pleases the Creator." That is, unless something unexpected happens. Or - in other words: "I want to come and make an effort to this, if the circumstances do not interfere."

An Arab, for example, says: I promise that I will come tomorrow at seven o'clock, inshallah... ". In the language of their real life, this phrase can be translated as follows: “I this moment it is advantageous to make a promise to come tomorrow. But what will be profitable for me tomorrow, I do not know. However, if the Almighty pleases, He will arrange everything in such a way that I want to come and I will come.

And this is an integral part of Arab psychology. Since childhood.

Therefore, in a sense, it is not correct to use the expression “he lies” in relation to an Arab. And in the same way, the words “he tells the truth” are not applicable to him. In any situation, it will be about his fantasy world and, therefore, about what it's good for him to say this moment

.

I will be frank: I never cease to be surprised how the leaders of Israel (just ashamed of them) do not take into account these well-known facts. Or, for example, the leaders of the United States (here I am an outside observer). After all, how much ink could be saved if it were not necessary to sign all kinds of senseless agreements like "Oslo" ... Or, to be more precise, unfortunately - how much blood would not be spilled

…

Are the accusations against Israel a mirror image of the essence of the Arabs as a nation?

In this they are no exception. The Talmud says: “The faults that a person finds the other is (to a certain extent) a reflection of his own.”

And even my answer should also be checked (for me, first of all) to what extent this universal rule applies to it. I wrote this answer not because found the Arabs have the peculiarities of character noted here, but only because these traits are constantly, hourly and everywhere manifested in their behavior. In all habitats.

Lyricist Eliyahu Essas

The Arabs call Arabia their homeland - Jazirat al-Arab, that is, the “Island of the Arabs”.

Indeed, from the west, the Arabian Peninsula is washed by the waters of the Red Sea, from the south - by the Gulf of Aden, from the east - by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The rugged Syrian Desert stretches to the north. Naturally, with such a geographical position, the ancient Arabs felt isolated, that is, "living on an island."

Speaking about the origin of the Arabs, they usually single out historical and ethnographic areas that have their own characteristics. The allocation of these areas is based on the specifics of socio-economic, cultural and ethnic development. The Arabian historical and ethnographic region is considered to be the cradle of the Arab world, the borders of which by no means coincide with the modern states of the Arabian Peninsula. This includes, for example, the eastern regions of Syria and Jordan. The second historical and ethnographic zone (or region) includes the rest of Syria, Jordan, as well as Lebanon and Palestine. Iraq is considered a separate historical and ethnographic zone. Egypt, Northern Sudan and Libya are united into one zone. And finally, the Maghrebino-Mauritanian zone, which includes the countries of the Maghreb - Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, as well as Mauritania and Western Sahara. This division is by no means universally recognized, since the border regions, as a rule, have features characteristic of both neighboring zones.

Economic activity

The agricultural culture of Arabia developed quite early, although only some parts of the peninsula were suitable for land use. These are, first of all, those territories on which the state of Yemen is now located, as well as some parts of the coast and oases. Petersburg orientalist O. Bolshakov believes that "in terms of the intensity of agriculture, Yemen can be put on a par with such ancient civilizations as Mesopotamia and Egypt" . The physical and geographical conditions of Arabia predetermined the division of the population into two groups - settled farmers and nomadic pastoralists. There was no clear division of the inhabitants of Arabia into settled and nomads, because there were various types of mixed economy, relations between which were maintained not only through commodity exchange, but also through family ties.

In the last quarter of the II millennium BC. the pastoralists of the Syrian desert had a domesticated dromedary camel (dromedary). The number of camels was still small, but this already allowed part of the tribes to move on to a truly nomadic way of life. This circumstance forced pastoralists to lead a more mobile lifestyle and make many kilometers of transitions to remote areas, for example, from Syria to Mesopotamia, directly through the desert.

First state formations

On the territory of modern Yemen, several states arose, which in the 4th century AD. were united by one of them - the Himyarite kingdom. The South Arabian society of antiquity is characterized by the same features that are inherent in other societies. ancient east: the slave-owning system was born here, on which the wealth of the ruling class was based. The state carried out the construction and repair of large irrigation systems, without which it was impossible to develop agriculture. The population of the cities was mainly represented by artisans who skillfully made high-quality products, including agricultural implements, weapons, household utensils, leather goods, fabrics, and decorations from sea shells. Gold was mined in Yemen, and fragrant resins were also collected, including frankincense, myrrh. Later, the interest of Christians in this product constantly stimulated transit trade, due to which the interchange of goods between the Arabian Arabs and the population of the Christian regions of the Middle East expanded.

With the conquest of the Himyarite kingdom at the end of the 6th century by Sasanian Iran, horses appeared in Arabia. It was during this period that the state fell into decline, which affected primarily the urban population.

As for the nomads, such collisions hurt them in lesser degree. The life of the nomads was determined by the tribal structure, where there were dominant and subordinate tribes. Within the tribe, relations were regulated depending on the degree of kinship. The material existence of the tribe depended solely on the harvest in the oases, where there were cultivated plots of land and wells, as well as on the offspring of the herds. The main factor influencing the patriarchal life of the nomads, in addition to the attacks of unfriendly tribes, were natural disasters - drought, epidemics and earthquakes, which are mentioned by Arab legends.

The nomads of central and northern Arabia have long been raising sheep, cattle, and camels. Characteristically, the nomadic world of Arabia was surrounded by economically more developed regions, so there is no need to talk about the cultural isolation of Arabia. In particular, this is evidenced by the excavation data. For example, in the construction of dams and reservoirs, the inhabitants of southern Arabia used cement mortar, which was invented in Syria around 1200 BC. The presence of links that existed between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coast and southern Arabia as early as the 10th century BC confirms the story of the trip of the ruler of Saba (“Queen of Sheba”) to King Solomon.

Advance of Semites from Arabia

Approximately in the III millennium BC. Arabian Semites began to settle in Mesopotamia and Syria. Already from the middle of the 1st millennium BC. began an intensive movement of Arabs outside the "Jazirat al-Arab". However, those Arabian tribes that appeared in Mesopotamia in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC were soon assimilated by the Akkadians living there. Later, in the XIII century BC, a new advancement of the Semitic tribes began, who spoke Aramaic dialects. Already in the 7th-6th centuries BC. Aramaic becomes the spoken language of Syria, replacing Akkadian.

ancient Arabians

Back to top new era significant masses of Arabs moved to Mesopotamia, settled in southern Palestine and the Sinai Peninsula. Some tribes even managed to create state formations. So, the Nabataeans founded their kingdom on the border of Arabia and Palestine, which lasted until the 2nd century AD. Along the lower reaches of the Euphrates, the Lakhmid state arose, but its rulers were forced to recognize vassal dependence on the Persian Sassanids. The Arabs who settled in Syria, Transjordan and southern Palestine united in the 6th century under the rule of representatives of the Ghassanid tribe. They also had to recognize themselves as vassals of the stronger Byzantium. It is characteristic that both the Lakhmid state (in 602) and the Ghassanid state (in 582) were destroyed by their own overlords, who feared the strengthening and growing independence of their vassals. Nevertheless, the presence of Arab tribes in the Syrian-Palestinian region was a factor that subsequently contributed to softening the new, more massive invasion of the Arabs. Then they began to penetrate into Egypt. Thus, the city of Koptos in Upper Egypt, even before the Muslim conquest, was half inhabited by Arabs.

Naturally, the newcomers quickly joined the local customs. Caravan trade allowed them to maintain ties with kindred tribes and clans within the Arabian Peninsula, which gradually contributed to the convergence of urban and nomadic cultures.

Prerequisites for the unification of the Arabs

In the tribes living near the borders of Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia, the process of decomposition of primitive communal relations developed faster than among the population of the interior regions of Arabia. In the 5th-7th centuries, there was an underdevelopment of the internal organization of the tribes, which, combined with the remnants of the maternal account and polyandry, testified that, due to the specifics of the nomadic economy, the decomposition of the tribal system in Central and Northern Arabia developed more slowly than in neighboring regions of Western Asia.

Periodically, kindred tribes united in unions. Sometimes there was a fragmentation of tribes or their absorption by strong tribes. Over time, it became obvious that large formations are more viable. It was in tribal unions or confederations of tribes that the preconditions for the emergence of a class society began to take shape. The process of its formation was accompanied by the creation of primitive state formations. As early as the 2nd-6th centuries, large tribal unions began to take shape (Mazhidj, Kinda, Maad, etc.), but none of them could become the core of a single pan-Arab state. The prerequisite for the political unification of Arabia was the desire of the tribal elite to secure the right to land, livestock and income from caravan trade. An additional factor was the need to join forces to resist external expansion. As we have already pointed out, at the turn of the 6th-7th centuries, the Persians captured Yemen and liquidated the Lakhmid state, which was in vassal dependence. As a result, in the south and north, Arabia was under the threat of absorption by the Persian state. Naturally, the situation had a negative impact on Arabian trade. The merchants of a number of Arabian cities suffered significant material damage. The only way out of this situation could be the unification of kindred tribes.

The Hejaz region, located in the west of the Arabian Peninsula, became the center of the unification of the Arabs. This area has long been famous for its relatively developed agriculture, handicrafts, but most importantly - trade. The local cities - Mecca, Yasrib (later Medina), Taif - had strong contacts with the surrounding tribes of nomads who visited them, exchanging their goods for the products of urban artisans.

However, the religious situation prevented the unification of the Arabian tribes. The ancient Arabs were pagans. Each tribe revered its patron god, although some of them can be considered pan-Arab - Allah, al-Uzza, al-Lat. Even in the first centuries in Arabia it was known about Judaism and Christianity. Moreover, in Yemen, these two religions have practically supplanted pagan cults. On the eve of the Persian conquest, Yemenite-Jews fought with Yemenite-Christians, while the Jews were guided by the Sasanian Persia (which subsequently facilitated the conquest of the Himyarite kingdom by the Persians), and the Christians - by Byzantium. Under these conditions, its own form of Arabian monotheism arose, which (especially at an early stage) to a large extent, but in a peculiar way, reflected some of the postulates of Judaism and Christianity. Its adherents - hanifs - became carriers of the idea of ​​a single god. In turn, this form of monotheism set the stage for the emergence of Islam.

The religious beliefs of the Arabs of the pre-Islamic period are a conglomeration of various beliefs, among which were female and male deities, the veneration of stones, springs, trees, various spirits, genies and shaitans, who were intermediaries between people and gods, was also widespread. Naturally, the absence of clear dogmatic ideas opened up wide opportunities for the ideas of more developed religions to penetrate into this amorphous worldview and contributed to religious and philosophical reflections.

By that time, writing began to become more and more widespread, which subsequently played a huge role in the formation of medieval Arab culture, and at the stage of the birth of Islam contributed to the accumulation and transmission of information. The need for this was colossal, as evidenced by the practice of oral memorization and reproduction of ancient genealogies, historical chronicles, poetic narratives, common among the Arabs.

As noted by the St. Petersburg scholar A. Khalidov, "most likely, the language was formed as a result of a long development based on the selection of different dialectal forms and their artistic comprehension" . In the end, it was the use of the same language of poetry that became one of the most important factors that contributed to the formation of the Arab community. Naturally, the process of mastering the Arabic language did not occur at the same time. This process took place most quickly in those areas where residents spoke related languages Semitic group. In other areas, this process took several centuries, but a number of peoples, once under the rule of the Arab Caliphate, managed to maintain their linguistic independence.

Arab caliphs

Abu Bakr and Omar

Omar Ibn Khattab

Caliph Ali

Harun ar Rashid

Abd ar Rahman I

Arab Caliphate

The Arab caliphate is a theocratic state headed by a caliph. The core of the Caliphate arose on the Arabian Peninsula after the advent of Islam at the beginning of the 7th century. It was formed as a result of military campaigns in the middle of the 7th - beginning of the 9th century. and conquest (with subsequent Islamization) of the peoples of the countries of the Near and Middle East, North Africa and Southwestern Europe.

Abbasids, the second great dynasty of Arab caliphs

Caliphate conquests

Trade in the Caliphate

Arabic dirhams

• In c.6 c. Arabia lost a number of territories - trade was disrupted.

• Unification became necessary.

• The unification of the Arabs was helped by the new religion of Islam.

• Its founder, Mohammed, was born around 570 in a poor family. He married his former mistress and became a merchant.

Islam

The science

Arab army

applied arts

Bedouins

Bedouin tribes: At the head - the leader The custom of blood feuds Military clashes over pastures At the end of the VI century. - Arab trade disrupted.

The conquests of the Arabs - VII - n. 8th century A huge Arab state was formed - the Arab Caliphate, the capital of Damascus.

The heyday of the Baghdad caliphate - the years of the reign of Harun ar-Rashid (768-809).

In 732, as the chroniclers testified, the 400,000-strong army of the Arabs crossed the Pyrenees and invaded Gaul. Later studies lead to the conclusion that the Arabs could have from 30 to 50 thousand warriors.

Not without the help of the Aquitaine and Burgundian nobility, who opposed the process of centralization in the kingdom of the Franks, the Arab army of Abd el-Rahman moved across Western Gaul, reached the center of Aquitaine, occupied Poitiers and headed for Tours. Here, on the old Roman road, at the crossing of the Vienne River, the Arabs were met by a 30,000-strong army of Franks, led by the mayor of the Carolingian family Pepin Karl, who had been the de facto ruler of the Frankish state since 715.

Even at the beginning of his reign, the Frankish state consisted of three long-separated parts: Neustria, Austrasia and Burgundy. Royal power was purely nominal. This was not slow to take advantage of the enemies of the Franks. The Saxons invaded the Rhine regions, the Avars invaded Bavaria, and the Arab conquerors moved across the Pyrenees to the Laura River.

Karl had to pave his way to power with weapons in his hands. After the death of his father in 714, he was thrown into prison along with his stepmother Plektruda, from where he was able to escape the following year. By that time, he was already a fairly well-known military leader of the Franks of Austrasia, where he was popular among free peasants and medium landowners. They became his the main support in the internecine struggle for power in the Frankish state.

Having established himself in Austrasia, Karl Pepin began to strengthen his position on the lands of the Franks by force of arms and diplomacy. After a bitter confrontation with his opponents, in 715 he became the major of the Frankish state and ruled it on behalf of the infant king Theodoric IV. Having established himself at the royal throne, Charles began a series of military campaigns outside of Austrasia.

Charles, having gained the upper hand in battles over the feudal lords who tried to challenge his supreme power, in 719 won a brilliant victory over the Neustrians, led by one of his opponents, Major Ragenfrid, whose ally was the ruler of Aquitaine, Count Ed. In the battle of Sausson, the Frankish ruler put the enemy army to flight. Having extradited Ragenfried, Count Ed managed to conclude a temporary peace with Charles. Soon the Franks occupied the cities of Paris and Orleans.

Then Karl remembered his sworn enemy - his stepmother Plectrude, who had her own large army. Starting a war with her, Charles forced his stepmother to surrender to him the rich and well-fortified city of Cologne on the banks of the Rhine.

In 725 and 728, Major Karl Pepin made two large military campaigns against the Bavarians and eventually subjugated them. This was followed by campaigns in Alemannia and Aquitaine, in Thuringia and Frisia ...

The basis of the combat power of the Frankish army until the battle of Poitiers was the infantry, which consisted of free peasants. At that time, all the men of the kingdom who were able to bear arms were liable for military service.

Organizationally, the Frankish army was divided into hundreds, or, in other words, into such a number of peasant households that in wartime could field one hundred foot soldiers in the militia. Peasant communities themselves regulated military service. Each Frankish warrior was armed and equipped at his own expense. The quality of weapons was checked at the reviews, which were conducted by the king or, on his behalf, military leaders-counts. If the warrior's weapon was in an unsatisfactory condition, then he was punished. There is a known case when the king killed a warrior during one of these reviews for the poor maintenance of personal weapons.

The national weapon of the Franks was the "francisca" - an ax with one or two blades, to which a rope was tied. The Franks deftly threw axes at the enemy at close range. For close hand-to-hand combat, they used swords. In addition to Francis and swords, the Franks were also armed with short spears - angons with teeth on a long and sharp tip. The teeth of the angon had the opposite direction and therefore it was very difficult to remove it from the wound. In battle, the warrior first threw angon, which pierced the enemy's shield, and then stepped on the shaft of the spear, thereby pulling back the shield and hitting the enemy with a heavy sword. Many warriors had bows and arrows, which were sometimes saturated with poison.

The only defensive armament of the Frankish warrior in the time of Karl Pepin was a shield of a round or oval shape. Only rich warriors had helmets and chain mail, since metal products cost a lot of money. Part of the armament of the Frankish army was military booty.

In European history, the Frankish commander Karl Pepin became famous primarily for his successful wars against the Arab conquerors, for which he received the nickname "Martell", which means "hammer".

In 720, the Arabs crossed the Pyrenees and invaded what is now France. The Arab army took the well-fortified Narbonne by storm and laid siege to the large city of Toulouse. Count Ed was defeated, and he had to seek refuge in Austrasia with the remnants of his army.

Very soon, the Arab cavalry appeared on the fields of Septimania and Burgundy and even reached the left bank of the Rhone River, entering the lands of the Franks. So on the fields of Western Europe, for the first time, a major clash matured between the Muslim and christianity. The Arab commanders, having crossed the Pyrenees, had big conquest plans in Europe.

We must pay tribute to Charles - he immediately understood the danger of the Arab invasion. After all, the Moorish Arabs by that time had managed to conquer almost all the Spanish regions. Their troops were constantly replenished with new forces that came through the Strait of Gibraltar from the Maghreb - North Africa, from the territory of modern Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Arab commanders were famous for their martial arts, and their warriors were excellent riders and archers. The Arab army was partially staffed by North African Berber nomads, for which in Spain the Arabs were called Moors.

Charles Pepin, having interrupted the military campaign in the upper reaches of the Danube, in 732 gathered a large militia of Austrasians, Neustrians and Rhine tribes. By that time, the Arabs had already plundered the city of Bordeaux, captured the fortress city of Poitiers and moved towards Tours.

The Frankish commander resolutely moved towards the Arab army, trying to prevent its appearance in front of the fortress walls of Tours. He already knew that the Arabs were commanded by the experienced Abd el-Rahman and that his army was much superior to the militia of the Franks, which, according to the same European chroniclers, numbered only 30 thousand soldiers.

At the point where the old Roman road crossed the river Vienne, across which a bridge had been built, the Franks and their allies barred the Arab army from reaching Tours. Nearby was the city of Poitiers, after which the battle was named, which took place on October 4, 732 and lasted several days: according to Arabic chronicles - two, according to Christian ones - seven days.

Knowing that the enemy army was dominated by light cavalry and many archers, Major Karl Pepin decided to give the Arabs, who adhered to active offensive tactics on the fields of Europe, a defensive battle. Moreover, the hilly terrain made it difficult for large masses of cavalry to operate. The Frankish army was built for the battle between the rivers Clen and Vienne, which, with their banks, well covered his flanks. The basis of the battle formation was the infantry, built in a dense phalanx. The cavalry, heavily armed in a knightly manner, was stationed on the flanks. The right flank was commanded by Count Ed.

Usually, the Franks lined up for battle in dense battle formations, a kind of phalanx, but without proper support for the flanks and rear, trying to solve everything with one blow, a general breakthrough or a swift attack. They, like the Arabs, had a well-developed mutual assistance based on family ties.

Approaching the river Vienne, the Arab army, not immediately getting involved in the battle, spread their camp not far from the Franks. Abd el-Rahman immediately realized that the enemy was in a very strong position and it was impossible to cover him with light cavalry from the flanks. The Arabs did not dare to attack the enemy for several days, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Karl Pepin did not move, patiently waiting for an enemy attack.

In the end, the Arab leader decided to start the battle and built his army in a fighting, dissected order. It consisted of battle lines familiar to Arabs: horse archers made up the “Morning of the Barking Dog”, then came the “Day of Help”, “Evening of Shock”, “Al-Ansari” and “Al-Mugadzheri”. The reserve of the Arabs, intended for the development of victory, was under the personal command of Abd el-Rahman and was called the "Banner of the Prophet."

The battle of Poitiers began with the shelling of the Frankish phalanx by Arab horse archers, to which the enemy responded with crossbows and longbows. After that, the Arab cavalry attacked the positions of the Franks. The Frankish infantry successfully repulsed attack after attack, the enemy's light cavalry could not break through their dense formation.

A Spanish chronicler contemporary with the Battle of Poitiers wrote that the Franks "stood close together, as far as the eye could see, like an immovable and icy wall, and fought fiercely, hitting the Arabs with swords."

After the Frankish infantry repulsed all the attacks of the Arabs, which, line by line, rolled back to their original positions in some disorder, Karl Pepin immediately ordered the knightly cavalry, which was still inactive, to launch a counterattack in the direction of the enemy camp located behind the right flank of the battle formation of the Arab army .

Meanwhile, the Frankish knights, led by Ed of Aquitaine, launched two ram attacks from the flanks, overturning the light cavalry opposing them, rushed to the Arab camp and captured it. The Arabs, demoralized by the news of the death of their leader, could not hold back the onslaught of the enemy and fled from the battlefield. The Franks pursued them and inflicted considerable damage. This ended the battle near Poitiers.

This battle had extremely important consequences. The victory of Majordom Karl Pepin put an end to the further advancement of the Arabs in Europe. After the defeat at Poitiers, the Arab army, hiding behind detachments of light cavalry, left French territory and, without further combat losses, went through the mountains to Spain.

But before the Arabs finally left the south of modern France, Karl Pepin inflicted another defeat on the Berre River south of the city of Narbonne. True, this battle was not among the decisive ones.

The victory over the Arabs glorified the commander of the Franks. Since then, they began to call him Karl Martell (i.e., war hammer).

Usually little is said about this, but the battle of Poitiers is also known for being one of the first battles when numerous heavy knightly cavalry entered the battlefield. It was she who, with her blow, provided the Franks with a complete victory over the Arabs. Now not only riders, but also horses were covered with metal armor.

After the battle of Poitiers, Charles Martel won several more great victories, conquering Burgundy and regions in southern France, up to Marseilles.

Charles Martell significantly strengthened the military power of the Frankish kingdom. However, he stood only at the origins of the true historical greatness of the state of the Franks, which will be created by his grandson Charlemagne, who reached the highest power and became the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Arab army

Hamdanid army X - XI centuries.

Late Fatimid army (11th century)

Ghaznavid army (late 10th - early 11th centuries): Ghaznavid palace guard. Karakhanid equestrian warrior in full dress. Indian mounted mercenary.

ancient arabia

City of Petra

The cistern of the Genies in Petra, with a hole at the bottom

Monument of the Serpent in Petra

Obelisk (top) next to the altar (bottom), Petra

Nabataean sundial from Hegra (Museum of the Ancient East, Archaeological Museum of Istanbul

Literature during the Caliphate

Thousand and One Nights

Islamic script

Applied art of the Arabs

Bronze candlestick with silver inlay. 1238. Master Daoud ibn Salam from Mosul. Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris.

Glass vessel with enamel painting. Syria. 1300. British Museum. London.

Dish with luster painting. Egypt. 11th c. Museum of Islamic Art. Cairo.

Sculptural ceiling in the Khirbet al-Mafjar castle. 8th c. jordan

Jug with the name of Caliph al-Aziz Billah. Rhinestone. 10th c. Treasury of San Marco. Venice.

Arabic architecture

Architecture at Almoravids and Almohads

The Almohad tower and the Renaissance bell section merge into one harmonious whole at La Giralda Campanile, Seville

Almoravides invaded al-Andalus from North Africa in 1086 and united the taifas under their rule. They developed their own architecture, but very few examples of it survive, due to the next invasion, by the now Almohads, who imposed Islamic ultra-orthodoxy and destroyed nearly every significant Almoravid building, including Madinah al-Zahra and other caliphate structures. Their art was extremely austere and simple, and they used brick as their main building material. In a literal sense, their only external decoration, the "sebka", is based on a grid of rhombuses. The Almohads also used palm-pattern ornaments, but these were little more than a simplification of the much more luxuriant Almoravid palms. As time went on, the art became a little more decorative. The most famous example of Almohad architecture is the Giralda, the former minaret of the mosque of Seville. Considered a Mudejar style, but this style is absorbed into the Almohad aesthetic here, the Santa Maria la Blanca synagogue in Toledo is a rare example of the architectural collaboration of the three cultures of medieval Spain.

Umayyad dynasty

dome of the rock

Umayyad Grand Mosque, Syria, Damascus (705-712)

Mosque Tunisia XIII century.

Arab invasion of Byzantium

Arab-Byzantine wars

the entire period of the Arab-Byzantine wars can be divided (roughly) into 3 parts:
I. Weakening of Byzantium, offensive of the Arabs (634-717)
II. Period of relative calm (718 - middle of the 9th century)
III. Counteroffensive of Byzantium (late 9th century - 1069)

Main events:

634-639 - Arab conquest of Syria and Palestine with Jerusalem;
639-642 - campaign of Amr ibn al-As to Egypt. The Arabs conquered this populous and fertile country;
647-648 - Construction of the Arab fleet. Capture of Tripolitania and Cyprus by the Arabs;
684-678 - First siege of Constantinople by the Arabs. Ended unsuccessfully;
698 - the capture of the African Exarchate (belonging to Byzantium) by the Arabs;
717-718 - Second siege of Constantinople by the Arabs. It ended unsuccessfully. Arab expansion in Asia Minor was halted;
IX-X centuries - Arabs capture the southern Italian territories of Byzantium (the island of Sicily);
X century - Byzantium goes on a counteroffensive and conquers part of Syria from the Arabs, and in particular such an important outpost as Antioch. The Byzantine army at that time even put Jerusalem in immediate danger. The Arab Sultanate of Aleppo recognized itself as a Byzantine vassal. At that time, Crete and Cyprus were also reconquered.

Rise of the Caliphate of Baghdad under Haroun-ar-Rashid

Arabic culture

Caliphate of Baghdad

Architecture of Baghdad

In Baghdad, there was a kind of intellectual center of the Islamic Golden Age - the House of Wisdom. It included a huge library, a huge number of translators and scribes worked in it. The best scientists of their time gathered in the House. thanks to the accumulated works of Pythagoras, Aristotle, Plato, Hippocrates, Euclid, Galen, research was carried out in the field of the humanities, Islam, astronomy and mathematics, medicine and chemistry, alchemy, zoology and geography.
This greatest treasury of the best works of antiquity and modernity was destroyed in 1258. It, along with other libraries in Baghdad, was destroyed by the Mongol troops after the capture of the city. Books were thrown into the river, and the water remained colored with their ink for many months ...
Almost everyone has heard about the burned-out Library of Alexandria, but for some reason, few people remember the lost House of Wisdom...

Fortress Tower Talisman in Baghdad.

Necropolis Shakhi Zinda

The emergence of the Shakhi-Zindan memorial on the slope of the Afrasiab hill is associated with the name of Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. It is known that he participated in the first campaigns of the Arabs in Maverannahr. According to legend, Kusam was mortally wounded near the walls of Samarkand and took refuge underground, where he continues to live. Hence the name of the memorial Shakhi-Zindan, which means "The Living King". By the X-XI centuries. the martyr of the faith Kusam ibn Abbas acquired the status of an Islamic saint, the patron saint of Samarkand, and in the XII-XV centuries. Along the path leading to his mausoleums and funeral mosques, their exquisite beauty, as it were, denies death.

On the northern outskirts of Samarkand, on the edge of the Afrasiab hill, among the vast ancient cemetery, there are groups of mausoleums, among which the grave attributed to Kussam, the son of Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, is the most famous. According to Arabic sources, Kussam came to Samarkand in 676. According to some sources, he was killed, according to others, he died of natural causes; according to some reports, he died not even in Samarkand, but in Merv. The imaginary or real grave of Kussam under his Abbasid relatives (VIII century), perhaps not without their participation, became the object of the Muslim cult. Among the people, Kussam became known as Shah-i Zinda - "The Living King". According to legend, Kussam left the earthly world alive and continues to live in the “other world”. Hence the nickname "The Living King".

Mausoleum of Zimurrud Khatun in Baghdad

Conquest of Spain

At the end of the 7th century AD. Arabs after long wars expelled the Byzantines from North Africa. Once the land of Africa was a battlefield between Rome and Carthage, it gave the world such great generals as Jugurtha and Masinissa, and now it has passed into the hands of Muslims, albeit with difficulty. After this conquest, the Arabs set out to conquer Spain.

They were driven to this not only by the love of conquest and the dream of expanding the Islamic State. The locals of North Africa - the Berber tribes - were very brave, warlike, violent and temperamental. The Arabs feared that after some time of calm, the Berbers would set out to avenge the defeats, raise an uprising and then the Arabs would miss the victory. Therefore, the Arabs, having aroused interest among the Berbers in the conquest of Spain, wanted to distract them from this and extinguish their thirst for bloodshed and revenge by war. As Ibn Khaldun notes, it is not surprising that the Muslim army, which was the first to cross the Jabalitarik Strait and entered Spanish soil, could be said to have consisted entirely of Berbers.

From ancient history it is known that the main inhabitants of Spain were Celts, Iberians and Ligors. The peninsula was divided into territories that once belonged to Phenicia, Carthage and Rome. After the conquest of Spain, the Carthaginians built the majestic city of Carthage here. Around 200 BC. in the Punic Wars, Rome defeated Carthage, took possession of these fertile lands, and up to the B century AD. dominated these lands. At this time, from Spain, which was considered the most important and flourishing place of the empire, came such great thinkers as Seneca, Lucan, Marsial and such famous emperors as Trajan, Marcus Aurelius and Theodosius.

Just as the prosperity of Rome created the conditions for the progress of Spain, so the fall of this city led to the decline of Spain. The peninsula once again became the scene of battles. At the beginning of the B century, the tribes of the Vandals, Alans and Suebi, who destroyed Rome and France, also devastated Spain. However, soon the tribes of the Goths expelled them from the peninsula and took possession of Spain. From the YOU century until the attack of the Arabs, the Goths were the dominant force in Spain.

Soon the Goths mixed with the local population - the Latin peoples, and adopted the Latin language and Christianity. It is known that before the XNUMXth century, the Goths prevailed among the Christian population of Spain. When the Arabs expelled them towards the Asturian mountains, the Goths, thanks to mixing with the local population, were again able to maintain their superiority. So, for example, among the Christian population of Spain, it was considered pride to be a descendant of the Goths and to bear the nickname "son of the Goths."

A little earlier, before the conquest of the Arabs, the nobility of the Goths and the Latin peoples united and created an aristocratic government. This association, engaged in the oppression of the oppressed masses, has gained the hatred of the people. And it is natural that this state, built on money and wealth, could not be strong and could not adequately defend itself from the enemy.

Also, the appointment of the ruler by election led to eternal strife and enmity for power between the nobility. This enmity and wars eventually hastened the weakening of the Gothic state.

General strife, internal wars, people's dissatisfaction with the local government and for this reason a weak rebuff to the Arabs, the lack of loyalty and the spirit of self-sacrifice in the army, and other reasons ensured an easy victory for the Muslims. It even got to the point that because of the above reasons, the Andalusian ruler Julian and the Bishop of Seville were not afraid to help the Arabs.

In 711, Musa ibn Nasir, who was the governor of North Africa under the rule of the Umayyad caliph Walid ibn Abdulmelik, sent a 12,000-strong army formed from Berbers to conquer Spain. The army was led by a Berber Muslim Tarig ibn Ziyad. The Muslims crossed the Jabalut-tarig strait, which got its name from the name of this famous commander Tariq, and entered the Iberian Peninsula. The wealth of this land, its clean air, delightful nature and its mysterious cities so impressed the army of the conquerors that in a letter to the Caliph Tarig wrote: “These places are similar to Syria in terms of air purity, similar to Yemen in temperate climate, similar to vegetation and incense. India, in terms of fertility and abundance of crops, are similar to China, in terms of the availability of ports, they are similar to Adena.
The Arabs, who spent half a century conquering the coastline of North Africa and met with fierce resistance from the Berbers, expected to face a similar situation when they conquered Spain. However, contrary to expectations, Spain was conquered in a short time, in just a few months. The Muslims defeated the Goths in the first battle. In this battle they were assisted by the Bishop of Seville. As a result, having broken the resistance of the Goths, the coastal zone passed into the hands of the Muslims.

Seeing the success of Tarig ibn Ziyad, Mussa ibn Nasir gathered an army consisting of 12 thousand Arabs and 8 thousand Berbers and moved to Spain in order to be a partner in success.

Throughout its journey, the Muslim army can be said not to have met a single serious resistance. The people dissatisfied with the government and the nobility, torn by strife, voluntarily submitted to the conquerors, and even sometimes joined them. Such major cities in Spain as Cordoba, Malaga, Granada, Toledo surrendered without resistance. In the city of Toledo, which was the capital, 25 valuable crowns of Gothic rulers, decorated with various precious stones. The wife of the Gothic king Rodrigue was captured and the son of Musa ibn Nasir married her.

In the eyes of the Arabs, the Spaniards were on a par with the populations of Syria and Egypt. The laws observed in the conquered countries were also enforced here. The conquerors did not touch the property and temples of the local population, local customs and orders remained the same as before. The Spaniards were allowed to contact contentious issues to their judges, to obey the judgments of their own courts. In return for all this, the population was obliged to pay a meager tax (jizya) for those times. The amount of tax for the nobility and the rich was set at the limit of one dinar (15 francs), and for the poor half a dinar. That is why the poor, driven to despair by the oppression of local rulers and countless dues, voluntarily surrendered to Muslims, and even by converting to Islam, were exempted from taxes. Despite the fact that in some places there were isolated cases of resistance, they were quickly suppressed.

As historians write, after the conquest of Spain, Musa ibn Nasir intended to reach Constantinople (present-day Istanbul; at that time Constantinople was the capital of the great Byzantine Empire), passing through France and Germany. However, the caliph called him to Damascus and the plan remained unfinished. If Moussa could carry out his intention, could conquer Europe, then at present the divided peoples would be under the flag of a single religion. Along with this, Europe would be able to avoid medieval darkness and medieval, terrible tragedies.

Everyone knows that when Europe groaned in the clutches of ignorance, fratricide, epidemics, senseless crusades, the Inquisition, Spain under the rule of the Arabs prospered, lived a comfortable life and was at the peak of its development. Spain shone in the darkness. In Spain, excellent conditions were created for the development of science and culture, and it owes this to Islam.

In order to define the role of the Arabs in the political, economic and cultural life Spain, it would be more appropriate to consider the ratio of their total number.

As mentioned above, the first Muslim army that entered the Iberian Peninsula consisted of Arabs and
Berbers. Subsequent military units consisted of representatives of the population of Syria. It is known from history that in the early Middle Ages in Spain, the leadership of science and culture belonged to the Arabs, and the Berbers were subordinate to them. The Arabs were considered the highest stratum of the population (ashraf), and the Berbers and the local population were considered a secondary and tertiary stratum of the population. Interestingly, even when the Berber dynasties were able to gain power in Spain, the Arabs managed to maintain their dominance.

As for the total number of Arabs, there is no exact data on this matter. One can only assume that after the Emirate of Cordoba separated from the Arab Emirate, the Arabs became isolated from the rest of the countries. However, due to the rapid growth and emigration from North Africa, the Berbers increased in number and gained supremacy in power.
Muslims mixed with the local Christian population of Spain. According to historians, in the very first years of the conquest of Spain, the Arabs married 30,000 Christian women and brought them into their harem (the harem in the Sibyl fortress, nicknamed the "room of girls", is a historical monument). In addition, at the beginning of the conquest, some of the nobility, in order to show their devotion to the Arabs, annually sent 100 Christian girls to the Caliph's palace. Among the women with whom the Arabs entered into marriage were girls from Latin, Iberian, Greek, Gothic and other tribes. It is clear that as a result of such mass mixing, a new generation arose in a few decades, radically different from the conquerors of the 700s.

From 711 (the date of the conquest of Spain) to 756, this area was subject to the Umayyad Caliphate. An emir appointed by the Umayyad caliph ruled over this territory. In 756, Spain seceded from the Caliphate and became independent. It became known as the Caliphate of Cordoba, whose capital was the city of Cordoba.

After 300 years had elapsed since the reign of the Arabs in Spain, their magnificent and glorious star began to fade. The strife that engulfed the Cordoba caliphate shook the power of the state. At this time, Christians living in the north took advantage of this chance and began to attack in order to take revenge.

The struggle of Christians for the return of the lands conquered by the Arabs (in Spanish: reconquista) intensified in the 10th century. In the Asturian region, where the Christians expelled from the Spanish lands concentrated, the Kingdom of Lyon and Castile arose. In the middle of the 11th century, both these kingdoms united. At the same time, the Navarrese, Catalan and Aragonese states, having united, created a new Aragonese kingdom. At the end of the 11th century, a Portuguese county arose in the west of the Iberian Peninsula. Soon this county also turned into a kingdom. Thus, at the end of the XNUMXth century, serious Christian rivals of the Caliphate of Cordoba began to appear on the Spanish map.

In 1085, as a result of a powerful attack, the northerners captured the city of Toledo. The leader of the northerners was the king of Castile and Leon, Alphonse VI. The Spanish Muslims, seeing that they could not resist on their own, asked the Berbers of North Africa for help. The al-Murabit dynasty, having established itself in Tunisia and Morocco, entered Spain and tried to resurrect the Caliphate of Cordoba. Al-Murabits in 1086 defeated Alphonse VI, and were temporarily able to stop the movement of the reconquista. In just half a century, they lost to a new dynasty that entered the political arena - al-Muwahhids. Having seized power in North Africa, the al-Muwahhids attacked Spain and subjugated the Muslim regions. However, this state was unable to properly resist the Christians. Despite the fact that they decorated their palaces with such prominent personalities as Ibn Tufeil, Ibn Rushd, the al-Muwahhids became helpless before the reconquista. In 1212, near the town of Las Navas de Tolosa, the united Christian army defeated them, and the al-Muwahhid dynasty was forced to leave Spain.

The Spanish kings, who did not get along with each other, put aside the enmity, and united against the Arabs. The reconquista movement directed against the Muslims involved the combined forces of the Castilian, Aragonese, Navarre and Portuguese kingdoms. In 1236, the Muslims lost Cordoba, in 1248 Seville, in 1229-35 the Balearic Islands, in 1238 Valencia. Capturing the city of Cadiz in 1262, the Spaniards reached the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Only the Emirate of Grenada remained in the hands of the Muslims. At the end of the 13th century, Ibn al-Ahmar, nicknamed Muhammad al-Ghalib, who was from the Nasrid dynasty, retreated to the city of Granada, and fortified the fortress of Alhambra (al-Hamra) here. He was able to maintain his relative independence, subject to the payment of tribute to the King of Castile. In the palace of the Grenada emirs, who were able to defend their independence for two centuries, such thinkers as Ibn Khaldun and Ibn al-Khatib served.
In 1469, King Ferdinand II of Aragon married Queen Isabella of Castile. The Aragonese-Castilian kingdom united all of Spain. The Grenada emirs refused to pay tribute to them. In 1492, Grenada fell to a powerful onslaught of the Spaniards. The last Muslim fort in the Iberian Peninsula was captured. And with this, all of Spain was conquered from the Arabs and the reconquista movement ended with the victory of the Christians.

The Muslims gave up Grenada on the condition that their religion, language and property be inviolable. However,
soon Ferdinand II broke his promise, and a wave of mass persecution and oppression began against the Muslims. At first they were forced to accept Christianity. Those who did not want to accept Christianity were brought to the terrible court of the Inquisition. Those who changed religion in order to escape torture soon realized that they had been deceived. The Inquisition declared the new Christians to be insincere and dubious, and began to burn them at the stake. At the instigation of the church leadership, hundreds of thousands of Muslims were killed: old people, young people, women, men. A monk of the Dominican order Belida offered to destroy all Muslims, young and old. He said that one should not show mercy even to those who converted to Christianity, because their sincerity is in question: “If we do not know what is in their hearts, then we must kill them so that the Lord God will draw them to his own judgment” . The priests liked the proposal of this monk, but the Spanish government, fearing the Muslim states, did not approve this proposal.

In 1610, the Spanish government demanded that all Muslims leave the country. The Arabs, who remained in a hopeless situation, began to move. Within a few months, more than a million Muslims left Spain. From 1492 to 1610, as a result of massacres directed against Muslims and their emigration, the population of Spain decreased to three million people. Worst of all, Muslims leaving the country were attacked by local residents, as a result of which many Muslims were killed. The monk of Belida happily reported that three-quarters of the Muslims who migrated died on the way. The mentioned monk himself personally participated in the murder of one hundred thousand people who were part of the 140 thousandth caravan of Muslims heading towards Africa. Truly, the bloody crimes committed in Spain against the Muslims leave the night of St. Bartholomew in the shade.

The Arabs, having entered Spain, which was very far from culture, raised it to the highest point of civilization, and ruled here for eight centuries. With the departure of the Arabs, Spain underwent a terrible decline and for a long time could not eliminate this decline. Having expelled the Arabs, Spain lost highly developed agriculture, trade and art, science and literature, as well as three million people of science and culture. Once the population of Cordoba was one million people, and now only 300 thousand people live here. Under Muslim rule, the population of the city of Toledo was 200 thousand people, and now less than 50 thousand people live here. Thus, it is safe to say that despite the fact that the Spaniards defeated the Arabs in the war, abandoning the great Islamic civilization, they plunged themselves into the abyss of ignorance and backwardness.

(The article used the book of Gustave le Bon "Islam and Arab Civilization")

Arab capture of Khorezm

The first Arab raids on Khorezm date back to the 7th century. In 712, Khorezm was conquered by the Arab commander Kuteiba ibn Muslim, who inflicted cruel reprisals on the Khorezmian aristocracy. Kuteiba brought down especially cruel repressions on the scientists of Khorezm. As he writes in the Chronicle past generations al-Biruni, “and by all means scattered and destroyed Kuteyb all who knew the writing of the Khorezmians, who kept their traditions, all the scientists that were among them, so that all this was covered with darkness and there is no true knowledge about what was known from their history before the establishment of Islam by the Arabs.

Arabic sources say almost nothing about Khorezm in the following decades. On the other hand, it is known from Chinese sources that Khorezmshah Shaushafar sent an embassy to China in 751, which was at war with the Arabs at that time. During this period, a short-term political unification of Khorezm and Khazaria took place. Nothing is known about the circumstances of the restoration of Arab sovereignty over Khorezm. In any case, only at the very end of the VIII century. the grandson of Shaushafar takes the Arabic name of Abdallah and mints the names of the Arab governors on his coins.

In the 10th century, a new flowering of urban life in Khorezm began. Arab sources paint a picture of the exceptional economic activity of Khorezm in the 10th century, and the surrounding steppes of Turkmenistan and western Kazakhstan, as well as the Volga region - Khazaria and Bulgaria, and the vast Slavic world of Eastern Europe become the arena for the activity of Khorezm merchants. The growth of the role of trade with Eastern Europe put forward the city of Urgench (now Kunya-Urgench) [specify], which became the natural center of this trade, to the first place in Khorezm. In 995, the last Afrigid, Abu-Abdallah Muhammad, was captured and killed by the emir of Urgench, Mamun ibn-Muhammad. Khorezm was united under the rule of Urgench.

Khorezm in this era was a city of high learning. Natives of Khorezm were such outstanding scientists as Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Iraq, Abu Reihan al-Biruni, al-Chagmini.

In 1017, Khorezm was subordinated to Sultan Mahmud Gaznevi, and in 1043 it was conquered by the Seljuk Turks.

Arabshahid dynasty

The real name of this country since ancient times was Khorezm. The khanate was founded by nomadic Uzbek tribes who captured Khorezm in 1511, under the leadership of the sultans Ilbars and Balbars, descendants of Yadigar Khan. They belonged to the Genghisid branch, descended from Arab-shah-ibn-Pilade, a descendant of Shiban in the 9th generation, so the dynasty is usually called Arabshahids. Shiban in turn was the fifth son of Jochi.

The Arabshahids, as a rule, were at enmity with another branch of the Shibanids, who at the same time settled in Maverannahr after the captures of Shaibani Khan; the Uzbeks, who occupied Khorezm in 1511, did not participate in the campaigns of Shaibani Khan.

The Arabshahids adhered to steppe traditions, dividing the khanate into estates according to the number of men (sultans) in the dynasty. The supreme ruler, the Khan, was the eldest in the family and chosen by the council of sultans. During almost the entire 16th century, Urgench was the capital. Khiva became the residence of the khan for the first time in 1557-58. (for one year) and only during the reign of Arab-Mohammed-Khan (1603-1622) Khiva became the capital. In the 16th century, the khanate included, in addition to Khorezm, oases in the north of Khorasan and Turkmen tribes in the sands of Kara-Kum. The possessions of the sultans often included areas in both Khorezm and Khorasan. Until the beginning of the 17th century, the khanate was a loose confederation of virtually independent sultanates, under the nominal authority of the khan.

Already before the arrival of the Uzbeks, Khorezm lost its cultural significance due to the destruction caused by Timur in the 1380s. A significant settled population survived only in the southern part of the country. Much of the formerly irrigated land, especially in the north, was abandoned and urban culture was in decline. The economic weakness of the khanate was reflected by the fact that it did not have its own money until late XVIII Bukhara coins were used for centuries. Under such conditions, the Uzbeks could maintain their nomadic image life longer than their southern neighbors. They were the military class in the khanate, and the settled Sarts (descendants of the local Tajik population) were taxpayers. The authority of the khan and the sultans depended on the military support of the Uzbek tribes; to reduce this dependence, the khans often hired Turkmens, as a result of which the role of Turkmens in the political life of the khanate grew and they began to settle in Khorezm. Relations between the khanate and the Sheibanids in Bukhara were generally hostile, the Arabshahids often allied with Safavid Iran against their Uzbek neighbors and on three occasions; in 1538, 1593 and 1595-1598. the khanate was occupied by the Sheibanids. By the end of the 16th century, after a series of internal wars in which most of the Arabshahids were killed, the system of dividing the khanate between the sultans was abolished. Shortly thereafter, at the beginning of the 17th century, Iran occupied the lands of the Khanate in Khorasan.

The reigns of the famous historian khan Abu-l-Gazi (1643-1663) and his son and successor Anush Khan were periods of relative political stability and economic progress. Large-scale irrigation works were undertaken, and new irrigated lands were divided among the Uzbek tribes; who became more and more sedentary. However, the country was still poor, and the khans filled their empty treasury with booty from predatory raids against their neighbors. From that time until the middle of the 19th century, the country was, in the words of historians, a "predatory state."

Culture in Spain during the Caliphate

Alhambra - the pearl of Arabic art

Tiles from the Alhambra. 14th century National Archaeological Museum, Madrid.

Arab harems

The Eastern harem is the secret dream of men and the personified curse of women, the focus of sensual pleasures and the exquisite boredom of beautiful concubines languishing in it. All this is nothing more than a myth created by the talent of novelists. A real harem is more pragmatic and sophisticated, like everything that was an integral part of the life and life of the Arab people.

The traditional harem (from the Arabic "haram" - forbidden) is primarily the female half of the Muslim home. Only the head of the family and his sons had access to the harem. For everyone else, this part of the Arab home is a strict taboo. This taboo was observed so strictly and zealously that the Turkish chronicler Dursun Bey wrote: "If the sun were a man, then even he would be forbidden to look into the harem." Harem - the kingdom of luxury and lost hopes ...

Haram - Forbidden Territory
During early Islamic times traditional residents harem were the wives and daughters of the head of the family and his sons. Depending on the wealth of the Arab, slaves could live in the harem, whose main task was the harem economy and all the hard work associated with it.

The institution of concubines appeared much later, during the time of the Caliphates and their conquests, when the number beautiful women became an indicator of wealth and power, and the law introduced by the prophet Muhammad, which did not allow having more than four wives, significantly limited the possibilities of polygamy.

In order to cross the threshold of the seraglio, the slave went through a kind of initiation ceremony. In addition to checking for innocence, the girl had to convert to Islam without fail.

Entering the harem was in many ways reminiscent of being tonsured as a nun, where instead of selfless service to God, no less selfless service to the master was instilled. Candidates for concubines, like God's brides, were forced to break all ties with the outside world, received new names and learned to live in humility. In later harems, wives were absent as such. The main source of a privileged position was the attention of the Sultan and childbearing. Showing attention to one of the concubines, the owner of the harem elevated her to the rank of a temporary wife. This situation was most often shaky and could change at any moment depending on the mood of the master. The most reliable way to gain a foothold in the status of a wife was the birth of a boy. A concubine who gave her master a son acquired the status of mistress.

Only the head of the family and his sons had access to the harem. For everyone else, this part of the Arab home is a strict taboo. This taboo was observed so strictly and zealously that the Turkish chronicler Dursun Bey wrote: "If the sun were a man, then even he would be forbidden to look into the harem."

In addition to the old proven slaves, eunuchs followed the concubines. Translated from Greek, "eunuch" means "guardian of the bed." They got into the harem exclusively in the form of guards, so to speak, to maintain order.

A people is a group of people united by some specific characteristics, there are more than 300 of them on Earth. There are numerous, for example Chinese, and there are also small ones, for example, Ginukh, whose representation does not even reach 450 people.

The Arab people are the second largest group of people in the world, with about 400 million people. They inhabit the states of the Middle East and North Africa, but also recently they have been actively emigrating to Europe due to wars and political conflicts. So what kind of people are they, what is their history, and are there countries where Arabs live?

Where did the Arab people come from?

The forerunners of the Arabs are the wild tribes of Africa and the Middle East. In general, the first mention of them was found in various Babylonian writings. More specific instructions are written in the Bible. It is in it that it is said that in the 14th century BC. e. in Transjordan, and then in Palestine, the first shepherd tribes from the Arabian oases appear. Of course, this is a rather controversial version, but in any case, scientists agree that it was in Arabia that this people originated, and from there the history of the Arabs began.

The vast majority of Arabs profess Islam (90%), and the rest are Christians. In the 7th century, the previously unknown merchant Muhammad began to preach a new religion. After several years, the prophet created a community, and later a state - the Caliphate. This country began to rapidly expand its borders, and literally a hundred years later it stretched from Spain through North Africa and southwestern Asia to the borders of India. Due to the fact that the Caliphate had a vast territory, the state language was actively spreading on the lands subject to it, due to which the local population was transferred to the culture and customs of the Arabs.

The spread of Islam allowed the caliphates to establish close contact with Christians, Jews, etc., which contributed to the formation of one of the greatest civilizations in the world. During its existence, many great works of art were created, there was a rapid rise in science, including astronomy, medicine, geography and mathematics. But in the 10th century, the fall of the Caliphate (the state of the Arabs) began due to wars with the Mongols and Turks.

By the 16th century, Turkish subjects conquered the entire Arab world, and this continued until the 19th century, when the British and French already dominated North Africa. Only after the Second World War, all the people, except for the Palestinians, gained independence. They received freedom only by the end of the 20th century.

We will consider later where the Arabs live today, but for now it is worth dwelling on the linguistic and cultural characteristics of this people.

Language and culture

The Arabic language, the official language of all countries in which this group of people lives, belongs to the Afroasian family. About 250 million people speak it, and another 50 million people use it as a second language. The writing is based on the Arabic alphabet, which has changed slightly over its long history. The language is constantly changing. Arabic is now written from right to left and has no capital letters.

Along with the development of the people, culture also developed. It acquired its dawn during the period of the Caliphate. It is noteworthy that the Arabs based their culture on the basis of Roman, Egyptian, Chinese and others, and in general, this people made a big step in the development of human civilization. Studying the language and heritage will help to understand who the Arabs are, what are their values.

Science and literature

Arabic science developed on the basis of ancient Greek, for the most part on military affairs, since vast territories could not be captured and defended only with the help of human resources. At the same time, various schools open. Scientific centers are also emerging due to the development of natural sciences. Great success have been achieved in the historical and geographical areas of research. Mathematics, medicine and astronomy received a great leap in development in the Caliphate.

The main literary work of the Arab world is the Koran. It is written in the form of prose and serves as the basis of the religion of Islam. However, even before the appearance of this religious book, great written masterpieces were created. Mostly Arabs composed poetry. The themes varied, such as self-praise, love, and depictions of nature. In the Caliphate such world works were written that are popular until today, these are: "A Thousand and One Nights", "Maqamat", "Messages of Forgiveness" and "The Book of the Miser".

Arabic architecture

Many art objects were created by the Arabs. At the initial stage, the influence of Roman and Byzantine traditions affected, but over time, their architecture acquires its own unique look. By the 10th century, a peculiar type of columned mosque was created with a rectangular courtyard in the center, surrounded by numerous halls, galleries with graceful arcades. This type includes the Amir Mosque in Cairo, where Arabs have lived for many hundreds of years.

From the 12th century, various letter and floral patterns began to gain popularity, with which buildings were decorated both outside and inside. Domes appear from the 13th century. In the 15th century, the decoration of buildings was based on the Moorish style, an example of this trend is the Alhambra castle in Granada. After the conquest of the Arab Caliphate by the Turks, the architecture acquires Byzantine features, which affected the Mohammed Mosque in Cairo.

The Status of Women and Religion in the Arab World

It is impossible to answer the question: who are the Arabs, if you do not study the position of women in their world. Until the middle of the 20th century, girls were at the lowest level in society. They did not have the right to vote, one might say, they were not considered people, but interestingly, the attitude towards mothers was always respectful. Now, especially in large cities, the attitude towards women has changed. Now they can attend schools, higher educational institutions and even hold high political and government positions. Polygamy, which is allowed in Islam, is slowly disappearing. You rarely see a man with more than two wives these days.

With regards to religion, then, of course, mostly Arabs profess Islam, about 90 percent. Also a small part are adherents of Christianity, mostly Protestants and a small part of the Orthodox. In ancient times, this people, like most ancient tribes, worshiped the stars, the sun and the sky. They honored and paid tribute to the most famous and influential ancestors. Only in the 7th century, when Muhammad began to preach, did the Arabs actively begin to convert to Islam, and now they are commonly considered Muslims.

Arab countries

The world has enough a large number of states where the Arab people live. Countries in which the vast majority of the population is precisely this nationality can be considered their original ones. For them, the place of residence is mostly in Asian countries. The largest representation of Arabs in the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia. Of course, Arabs still live in Africa and European countries.

Arab emigration

Throughout history, this nationality has moved around the world, for the most part it is associated with the great civilization of the Caliphate. Now there is a much more active emigration of Arabs from Africa and the Middle East to Europe and America due to the unstable and threatening situation that has developed as a result of military and political conflicts. Currently, Arab immigrants are distributed in such territories: France, the USA, Germany, Italy, Austria, etc. About 10 thousand immigrants currently live in Russia, this is one of the smallest representations.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a well-known, influential and successful Arab state. This is a country in the Middle East, which is divided, in turn, into 7 emirates. The UAE is one of the most modern, advanced and wealthy countries in the world and is considered a leading oil exporter. It is thanks to this natural reserve that the Emirates are developing so quickly. Only in the 1970s, the country gained independence, and in such a short time it reached great heights. The most famous cities in the UAE are Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country, and Dubai.

Dubai Tourism

Now United United Arab Emirates attract tourists from all over the world, but, of course, the center of attraction is Dubai.

This city has everything: any vacationer will be able to satisfy their desires, even lovers of skiing will find a place here. The best beaches, shops and entertainment centers. The most famous object not only in Dubai, but throughout the UAE, is the Burj Khalifa. It is the tallest building in the world, reaching 830 meters in height. Inside this massive structure are retail space, offices, apartments, hotels and much more.

The largest water park in the world is also in Dubai. Thousands of different specimens of animals and fish live here. Entering the aquarium, you plunge into the world of a fairy tale, you feel like an inhabitant of the marine world.

In this city, everything is always the largest and largest. The largest and most beautiful artificial archipelago "Mir" is located here. The outlines of the island copy the contours of our planet. The view from the top is magnificent, so it's worth taking a helicopter tour.

Thus, the Arab world is a fascinating history, culture and modern way of life. Everyone should get acquainted with the peculiarities of this people, go to the states where the Arabs live, for recreation and entertainment, because this is an amazing and unique phenomenon on planet Earth.

The Arabs believe that their homeland is the "Island of the Arabs". Historians believe that this is not at all accidental, because the ancient Arabs originally lived surrounded by two seas and bays. The close proximity to the Syrian desert contributed to the isolation. As a result, the Arabian Peninsula could indeed be presented as a territory separated from the rest of the world. For a long time, the Arab tribes were scattered and lived separately. Difficult climatic conditions and the need to live together to protect themselves from adversity helped the Arabs to gain a unity of self-consciousness. Now the Arab people include a large group of the population living in many regions of the world, including East Africa.

Story

The unification of the Arab tribes took place in 3-2 millennia BC. Historians call the tribes that existed then Semitic, which became the Arab people. Arabization affected the Phoenicians, Libyans, Egyptians and other nationalities.
The first states of Arab origin appeared in the 6th-5th centuries BC. These include Sabaean, Minean, Nabataean and others.
Historians often disagree on the exact year in which the formation of the Arab people was consolidated. Presumably, this is the period of the 4th-6th centuries. AD
Cities actively developed, trade relations with nomads were established. At the same time, the development of trade with Syria, Ethiopia, and Iran was observed. Competitions of poets were regularly held in Northern Arabia. It is in them that one can trace the formation of Arab self-consciousness and national patriotism. An important prerequisite for the unification of the tribes was the formation of two main languages ​​(North Arabic and South Arabic).

culture

Arab culture is credited with a great influence on the world. Around the 4th century AD, the Arabs already had a written language. The Arab caliphate united many states, exact and applied sciences were rapidly developed. The Arabs were especially interested in astronomy. They were among the first to determine the size of the globe, the success of the Arabs in mathematics was admired Western Europe. Trigonometric equations appeared at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries.
Even today, the prestige of the Arabs is scientists and doctors. Since ancient times, they have been fascinated by theoretical medicine and healing.
One of the founders of ophthalmology as a discipline was Ar-Razi, who actively developed geometric optics in the 10th century AD.
The cultural richness of the Arabs is not limited to science. Architectural masterpieces are known all over the world. Among them are mosques, minarets, palaces. These types of buildings are considered unique, also due to the ornaments.
Even during the period of the Crusades and the invasion of the Mongols, when the destruction of cultural values ​​was observed, the Arab people were able to show serious achievements. The sciences no longer simply developed, but began to be taught as disciplines. At the same time, fiction and ceramics processing developed.
In the early Middle Ages, folklore was actively developing, poets were incredibly highly valued. Citizens used metaphors, sayings, the ability to speak beautifully was rated very highly. Poets praised fellow tribesmen, increasing their authority. Among the people, poets were perceived ambiguously. Often people said that inspiration comes to them from the devil, who listens to the conversations of angels. Often the poets turned out to be impersonal - the people were interested in their work, but not in life. Therefore, little is known about many representatives of the creative elite.
Among the famous poets, it should be noted Abu Nuwas, who glorified feasts and love. Abul-Atahiya praised morality, emphasized the injustice of the way of life, scolded worldly fuss. Al-Mutanabbi was known as a wanderer, honoring the rulers of Iran, Egypt, and Syria. He did not hesitate to scold them and put up.
Abul-Ala al-Maarri is considered the most significant poet in the Arab people. Al-Ma'arri was a Muslim who had studied the Qur'an since childhood. As a child, he lost his sight due to smallpox. However, this spurred him to study the sciences, philosophy and gave impetus to the desire to know the world. Traveling, the poet composed poems in which contemporaries note deep erudition. Al-Maarri devoted many works to the study of society, noting its vices.
Speaking of Arabic literature, it is impossible not to recall the work "A Thousand and One Nights".
Everyone is familiar with Ali Baba, Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor. It is the Arabian tales with young years introduce the reader to the features of the palace life of the Arab people.
A significant name in history was the name of Omar Khayyam, a Persian philosopher, scientist and poet. He adhered to hedonic thinking and praised the joys of life.
Historians and orientalists are sincerely surprised at the desire to introduce poetry into a variety of works, including medical ones. Poems were preserved in the treatises, and later, the Koran began to influence almost all literature.
The Quran is a collection of Islamic teachings. It is based on commandments, prayers, edifications and legal guidelines. It is in the Koran that the oldest loan agreement is set out, which regulates the relationship between the borrower and the person providing the loan. The Koran makes it possible to read the parables of the Prophet Muhammad - the followers of Islam learn suras by heart. Muslims divide the sayings into those spoken by Muhammad and those spoken by Allah, calling the latter revelations. The rest are called legends. The Quran was canonized in the 7th century AD. Commentaries are a significant feature of scripture, allowing believers to better understand Scripture.
Fanaticism of the teachings of the Koran appeared in the Middle Ages. A voluminous book was taught by heart, considering it at the same time a book for learning the Arabic language. It was forbidden to translate the Koran into other languages, but it was allowed to distribute the scripture among the Arab population. This contributed to the development Muslim culture the Arab people.

Folklore

The folklore of the Arab people excites the minds of science fiction writers and fantasy lovers. There is a whole doctrine dedicated to jinn - jinnology. In Islam, jinn are perceived as demons created from fire. Man was created from clay, and angels from light. Jinn are mortal, but able to live for hundreds of years. The genie must eat, it is natural for him to get close to a person and even to marry people. Among the supernatural abilities that genies possessed were gaining invisibility, turning into an animal, plant, another person.
Jinn are usually divided into good and evil. The first converted to Islam, remaining obedient to Allah. The evil ones turned into infidels, but both types of jinn are dangerous for humans. The greatest threat was posed by the marids and ifrit, thirsting for blood. The Arabs believed (some believe even now) that ghouls are introduced into the cemeteries - huge cannibal werewolves.
The jinn accompanied man all his life, so people always warned each other about the danger of colliding with them. For protection, a Muslim turned to Allah to warn against the attack of demons. Protective amulets were often used, one of the most popular was the Palm of Fatima, which was a copper palm with a bead. blue color.
Fatima was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and the amulet named after her, according to the Arabs, was supposed to protect against the evil eye.
It was the evil eye that was considered the most terrible phenomenon. The source of the evil eye could be flattering speech, the rudeness of the interlocutor.
The fear of the evil eye affected the way of life of the Arabs. This is manifested in clothing, the desire to keep family secrets.
Dreams among the Arabs are perceived as unique phenomenon. The first dream book dates back to the 11th century. The Koran says that it is impossible to lie about dreams, therefore it was forbidden to invent and conjecture a dream. It was allowed to guess, referring to the elders, who could "read" the dream. Fortune-telling was given a lot of attention, primarily focused on birds. It was not worth getting involved in divination rituals, as this could lead to magic. It was believed that white magic was the lot of a pious person. She was favored by the angels, the good genies. An inexperienced person could quickly come to black magic, capable of embodying secret and dark desires. The evil magician was helped by the shaitans, who called troubles, not only on those around them, but also on himself. These features of the worldview appeared in pre-Islamic times, they have survived to this day.

Life

• The foundations of morality, culture, social life are set out in the Shariah. Sharia teachings were formed in the 7th century. Sharia obliges every Muslim to fast, read prayers, and perform rituals. It was prescribed to do charity;
• Eating food, daily sleep, marriage are not encouraged in any way, but they are not subject to a ban. Sharia does not approve of the enjoyment of earthly life, such as eating food. The use of wine, pork, gambling, witchcraft and usury were prohibited. Sharia has long been strictly observed, with the exception of the use of wine, which was very fond of the townspeople. The villagers tried to observe the norms strictly;
• Marriage is considered one of the most important events in the life of every person. Divorce, inheritance, and other items related to marriage are based on the traditions of pre-Islamic society and the teachings of the Koran. The significance of the birth of a son was incredibly great - it was believed that only after a boy was born a man becomes a full-fledged person. The Koran ordered to bring up valor in sons, the ability to answer for the word, kindness and generosity;
• Islam encourages the freeing of a slave. A Muslim who freed a person from slavery became pious. However, such an act was rarely performed, because the merchants completely relied on the slave trade.

Character

1. Men of the same age can pat each other on the knee or on the shoulder.
2. Elders must be respected.
3. Men and women try to communicate with each other, avoiding contact with persons of the opposite sex.
4. Traditionally, during the meal, men and women sit at different tables.
5. Demonstrating feelings in public is considered indecent even in relation to spouses.
6. The greeting of men is a triple imitation of kisses when they touch their cheeks.
7. Fraternal relations between men are widespread: in Arab countries one can often see men walking around holding hands with each other, sometimes they walk in threes, hugging each other by the waist.
8. Bows are outdated, but when meeting with a guest of particular importance in status, he must be kissed on the shoulder.
9. Elderly people sometimes imitate kissing hands.

National Costume

The traditional national costume of the Arabs is the kandura dress. This dress is worn by men. AT summer time During the year the clothes are invariably white, in winter they wear beige, less often light green kandura. On the head they wear a hafia, which is a small hat. The scarf familiar to all of us is called gutra. It can be white or red. If a man is going to a celebration, such as a wedding, he will wear a special bisht cape. Arab men also like to wear kerkushu jewelry, which is a small tassel. The dress is not worn on the naked body - under it there is always a shirt with a vuzar belt.
Women also wear kandura, although with longer sleeves. Sirval pants are put on the legs, and an abaya over the dress. There are several options for headwear, the most popular are the hijab and dishwa. The latter covers the face and head completely. On rare occasions, a mask called a burqa can be seen covering the lips, nose, and part of the forehead. Modern suit options may include real ties or fitted jackets. Arabs are watching fashion trends and often wear clothes from fashion designers.

Traditions

In fact, the Arabs have hundreds of customs. All of them are prescribed by the Koran, although some were born in the pre-Islamic era. Here are a few that have survived to this day:

1. Food is taken sitting on the floor. Mattresses are rarely laid, usually carpets are used. There is a need right hand, and with the left you can wipe your mouth with a napkin. Cutlery is not used, they are replaced with cakes, which are folded in the form of a scoop. After a meal, incense is applied to clothes or skin. Hands are washed with rose water.
2. The woman is given the role of the guardian of the hearth. She can't cook or clean. The husband is obliged to support her and give gifts. In fact, this tradition often has to be broken, because not all Arabs have sufficient prosperity. Therefore, in simple Arab families, children help their mothers around the house.
3. Prayers are performed every day five times.
4. In Ramadan, fasting must be observed, which prohibits smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and even eating during the daytime.
5. The Bedouins have a thousand-year-old custom that orders to receive a guest who "knocks on the tent." The Bedouin invites the stranger, handing him a cup of bitter tea, symbolizing the hectic life. The life of a Bedouin is sweet, so after the bitter one comes a cup of sweet tea. A guest can spend 3 days and 3 nights with a Bedouin, then he must tell why he came. Some people just love to enjoy Bedouin hospitality, but there are those who run from the authorities. The Bedouin can help or refuse.
6. Families in Arab countries are divided into clans. Traditionally, the number of children in one family can reach 5-8.
7. Arabs actively develop the most talented boys. Maximum one or two. The rest themselves must look for their place in life, but they can always count on the help of relatives.
8. There is a special day for women when fitness centers, beaches, water parks and other public places are open only for them.

You can talk about the Arabs for a very long time. This is a truly great nation that influenced the development of science and art around the world. They not only made a significant contribution to the history of mankind, but also continue to share their experience and cultural traditions. In recent decades, the moral character of the Arabs has become less strict. Many young people willingly get acquainted with foreigners, use the achievements of modern civilization, study foreign languages and are often trained in European countries. Preservation of foundations, adherence to religion and the teachings of the Koran can be called the main features of the Arab people. At the same time, the Arabs are people with a broad soul who love life very much, which is manifested in their speech, literature and everyday life.

Belly dance will help to understand all the magic and luxury of Arab culture. In this video, you can watch a demonstration of the enchanting dance technique, which has been around for many centuries.

Perhaps you already know this, or perhaps you can only guess. We will quote famous politicians, sociologists, psychologists and historians who have been studying the issue of the absurd and illogical aggression of the Arabs for many years. Having given this selection just a couple of minutes, it becomes clear that the Arab-Israeli conflict will not be resolved soon. All negotiations to resolve the situation in the Middle East are absolutely meaningless against the backdrop of the psychological picture of the Arab population in this sector.

Lies and aggression - these two words characterize the temperament of the Arabs with jewelry accuracy, everything else is a consequence.

Of course, it cannot be argued that all Arabs fit the description, but there is no doubt that they are the vast majority.

Lawrence of Arabia

British officer and writer

No Arab has yet admitted that he made a mistake, that he was to blame for the failure of the battle, that he did not calculate his strength. The Arabs, with whom I communicated and fought in their ranks for 7 years, always someone else is to blame for their troubles.

United Arab people? Myth. This nation exists in theory. In fact, there are hundreds of clans and hamuls, historical strife and enmity, and only one thing the Arabs have in common: unbridled fantasies and an inability to admit their mistakes. They constantly need a scapegoat.

In order to accept Islam, one needs mental atrophy, readiness to live as an ant or a bee that does not have its own will and its own personal appearance.

Guy de Maupassant

Leading French novelist

She told me her story, or rather, she lied from beginning to end, as all Arabs lie - always, for any reason and without any reason.

Here is one of the most striking and most inexplicable properties of the native character - deceit. These people, in whom Islam has penetrated to such an extent that it has become part of their nature, nurtured their feelings, created a special morality, modified an entire race and separated it from others, as the color of the skin distinguishes a black from a white, they are all deceitful to the marrow of their bones, so deceitful that one cannot believe a single word they say.

Do they owe this to their religion? Don't know. You need to live among them in order to understand how much the lie has grown together with their being, heart, soul, how much it has become their second nature, a vital need.

Sanii Hamadi

Sociologist

Lies are very common among the Arabs, and the truth is worth nothing to them. An Arab does not feel remorse if, thanks to a lie, he achieves his goal ... He listens more to feeling than to facts, he is more interested in making an impression than telling something truthfully. Furthermore, Arabic language gives its bearer the possibility of exaggeration.

Ali Shuti

Egyptian scientist

If an Arab says only what he thinks, without the exaggeration expected from him, the listeners will doubt his innocence and even suspect him of completely opposite intentions.

Shimon Peres

Political figure

Arab culture is completely different than ours. In our culture, the spoken word obliges, but in Arabic it decorates. The word in this case is intended not for communication, but for ornament. Enter the mosque and you will see decorations woven from letters - this is the letter and verbal function in the Muslim understanding.

Sheikh Yusuf Jumaa Salama

I urge you to follow the example of al-Khansa, the medieval Muslim woman who sent her four sons to their deaths for the glory of Allah. To make your children martyrs for the faith is the greatest merit and the greatest happiness for any Arab woman.

Vadim Rotenberg

Psychologist

For the psychology of the Arabs, the absence of retribution is synonymous with the absence of courage and determination. They themselves can refuse revenge only because of fear, and they will not accept any other explanation.

Tatiana Stefanenko

Ethnopsychologist, other psychological sciences

What is the main difference between East and West? The East is a culture of shame. And the West is a culture of guilt. Shame and guilt are two fundamentally different regulators of behavior. For a Japanese, an Arab, a Chinese, the main regulator is shame. It is important for them what the representatives of their group think about them. For a little Japanese, the biggest punishment is when his name is written in large letters on the board. And if he is expelled from the class, from his group ... that's all!

And for an American, a European, the main regulator is an inner feeling of guilt. Before God, before yourself. Mainly in front of you. In another way it is called conscience. Why do psychologists call the difference between shame and guilt fundamental? Because a European may feel sorry for a murdered Arab, he may feel guilty about his death. And an Arab, having killed a European, will not be ashamed. You can be ashamed only in front of your own. Shame only works within the group. And people outside their group are perceived by the Arabs as non-humans, who can be destroyed ruthlessly and shamelessly.

Moshe Feiglin

Political figure

If you run and give up - in the traditions of Islam, this is just proof that you are wrong. Conversely, if you were considered a bad person, but the power was on your side and you won, in the eyes of the Arabs you became both right and good. The Israelis do not understand why the Arabs all the time demand certain gestures and concessions in their favor, and their demands are constantly growing. Because in their cultural baggage, the concept of "I owe you" simply does not exist. As soon as you conceded something to me, this is only proof that you are a weakling, you have no choice, that power, and therefore right, is on my side, and therefore I rely on more and more. They will not hate you more if you show them your strength - on the contrary, they will begin to respect you.

The Christian cross has four ends: the top symbolizes good, the bottom - evil, the right - strength, the left - weakness. The Muslim crescent has only two ends: strength and weakness. Good is where there is strength, and evil is associated with weakness. Because Islam is based on materiality, it has developed an anti-productive culture. Why plant a tree whose fruits I will not enjoy?

When there is no good and evil, the only criterion for development is direct profit. The curse: "you will live by your sword" and "his hand is on everything, and the hand of all is on him", which Ishmael received, is the basis of this culture.

The Arab is not a "son of the desert", in fact he is the "father of the desert". His black goat devours all the green sprouts at the root, leaving no chance for further development. An Arab does not steal or rob - he just makes a living.

Mohammed Ibn-Quadi

Professor at the University of Strasbourg

Throughout their history, the Arabs have chosen their allies not by values, but by circumstances; therefore, it is not surprising that in most cases they turned out to be on the side of the forces of evil. In the 20th century, this property of Arab politics led to the fact that the Arabs first became allies of the Nazi Reich, and then of the communist regimes. The problem is not in unscrupulousness and not in evil fate, but in the fact that Jihad is indeed a central point in the teachings of Muhammad. For 14 centuries, the best minds of Muslims have tried to change the attitude towards terror and murder, but the most ingenious theological constructions cannot close the way to a literal understanding of the Koran and Hadith. In this regard, unfortunately, it is Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and others like them who are "good Muslims."

Benny Morris

Professor

The peoples of Africa were oppressed by European powers no less than the Palestinians, and yet there is no African terror in London, Paris or Brussels. The Germans killed Jews, but Jews do not blow up buses in Munich and Nuremberg. Here is something different, more profound, connected with Islam and Arab culture. There is a deep problem in Islam. This is a world with different values. This is a world in which human life is valued differently. A world that is alien to freedom, openness, creativity. A world that allows you to kill someone else. Revenge in it takes a very important place. Revenge is central to Arab tribal culture. If they get a chemical or nuclear weapon, they use it. If they can, they will commit genocide.