The Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula during the Middle Ages was a place that was greatly influenced by the various culture that either in the past inhabited it or had passed through using its trade routes. Because the peninsula lies between 3 continents it was a melting pot of cultures. As you can see from the map on the left there were many land and sea trade routes passing through it. The Arabian Peninsula also had a variety of different geographical environments. It had deserts, mountains, coastal plains, and oases. |
Mountains
Most of the mountain ranges on the Arabian Peninsula can be found near the southeastern and western coasts. There are 4 major ranges in total. The mountains themselves vary in elevation and start at about 1,000 feet and top out at over 12,000 feet. Many of the mountain ranges receive a good bit of rain each year, as much as 20 inches. Typically as with most areas of high elevation the mountains have relatively cool climates when compared to the rest of the peninsula. People who live in the mountains have adapted their way of life to reflect their environment. One example is the way in which the people built their homes. Many of the homes in the mountains were created using sun dried mud bricks. These type of homes are well insulated and provide warmth at night and cool temps in the day. Another way they were able to adapt was by creating terraces. Terraces allow people to build or farm on land that is not flat and slopes. By cutting these step like terraces into the mountains it prevents erosion and provides a stable foundation to build on. |
Oasis
In the desert water is a very scarce resource but in some areas of the desert water comes to the surface from springs. These areas are known as oases. Many trade routes use these fresh water sources as stopping points for their caravans. Many people also give up the nomadic life of moving from place to place and settle down and form permanent homes in these areas. Crops can be grown and many oases rely heavily on the date palm. This plant provides fruit, shade, wood and fronds for building homes, and wood for building fires. |
Deserts
The majority of the Arabian Peninsula is this type of region at about 75%. The deserts are a land of extremes in the day time they temps can be well over 100 degrees and at night there can be below freezing temps. Rainfall is scarce and is usually less than a few inches a year. Many of the deserts of this area contain sand dunes with very little vegetation and these can be a high as 10 stories. These dunes are shaped and changed by the wind which often causes sandstorms with little visibility. Most of the people living in the desert are living as nomads. These are people who have no settled home and move from place to place living in tents, herding animals, and trading. One of the most well known tribes are the Bedouins, this tribe has lived a nomadic way of life for thousands of years. Bedouins make heavy use of camels to carry goods, for their wool, milk, cheese, and meat. Camels are well equipped for this environment because they can go along time without water and their eyelids allow them to see without being blinded by sandstorms. Bedouins also wear very loose fitting clothing to adapt to this harsh desert environment. This type of clothing allows their bodies to sweat and cool them off. It also can cover their bodies and faces to protect from the hot sun and from sandstorms. |
Coastal Plains
The coastal plain of the Arabian Peninsula runs along the coast and varies in size from 5 to 40 miles. This area receives regular rainfall and the air is relatively humid year-round. This region tends to be a very agricultural area with lots of farming. People built dams and other types of irrigation to keep their crops consistently watered. |