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The
Arab society extends five and a quarter million square miles, with
eighty percent being desert conditions. The traditional view of
Arabs as nomads, which started with Muhammad’s emigration in 622,
makes up a little less than five percent of the total world
population today. Urbanization and industrialization due to heavy
Western influence have changed the demographical concentration of
the Arab people. Almost half live in cities, where both men and
women have more educational, as well as employment opportunities.
The new society of Arabs still holds close to traditional values and
morals. Loyalty to the family has always, and continues to be the
top priority of the Arab. Religion is also a main focus in how they
live their lives. Islamic religion was first developed in the 7th
century AD, and was centered mainly to the Arab desert nomads, but
Arabs of today are only one fifth of the total Muslim population
around the world. Now Muslims are in the greatest numbers in about
35 countries spreading from the Pacific to the Atlantic and from
Africa to Asia.
Muslims follow the holy book called the Qur’an. They hold the Qur’an
high, and it is followed in all areas of life, from religious to
governmental and social issues. The Arab people speak Arabic, which
is the religious language of the Qur’an. Spoken by people from
Egypt, North Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Arabia, this language is
uniform throughout the entire Arab world. Including a variety of
guttural (from the throat) sounds, this language is complex and
unique from other languages. Arab or Egyptian cuisine is known for
flavor and its use of fresh ingredients. The staple in every Arabs’
diet is a bread called Aish, which is a darker form of the Pita
bread in the Greek culture. Fava beans are also important in the
diet. At an Arab meal it is expected to have a soup, meat, vegetable
stew, bread, salad, and rice or pasta. Their desserts aren’t rich;
mostly fruit is served after a meal.
The
technology is rapidly growing and is first in some areas. In Lebanon
there was the first national television station to broadcast 24
hours nonstop. They also have many other TV and radio stations, as
well as newspapers that can even be seen on the web. The pastoral
dessert nomad, which herded camels and sheep across the desert is
fading fast, and is being replaced by professionals and technicians
that work in the populated cities. Many Arabs find employment with
oil companies and other big manufacturing companies, which have
bases in the Middle East. With the average life expectancy rates
between 70-80 years of age things are on the rise for the people of
the Arab nation. The Arab society is both old and new, with changes
going in the right direction. They continue to keep family and
relationships as a high moral value. Education is on the rise, with
the opportunity there for both sexes ..
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