Arab

Arab, one whose language is Arabic and who identifies with Arab culture. The term originally referred to inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, but the Arab world today includes the countries Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, and Tunisia. Arab culture spread after the successful campaigns of Mohammed (c.A.D. 570). In the 7th century the Arabs extended their hegemony from northwestern Africa and Spain to Afghanistan and northern India, where many non-Arabic peoples were converted to the Arabic religion of Islam. Non-Muslim peoples who are also Arabs include Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian Christians. In the 20th century the discovery and exploitation of petroleum in Arab lands has resulted in sudden wealth and modernization for many Arab countries. Arab hostility to the state of Israel has strengthened Pan-Arab nationalism.

See also: Islam; Middle East; Muslims.