Title: The Arabs and Arabia on the Eve of Islam (The Formation of the Classical Islamic World, V. 3)
Description: This volume aims to examine the background to the rise of Islam. The opening essays consider the broad context of nomad-sedentary relations in the Near East, and move on to focus on the Arabian peninsula and the history of the Arab peoples. Following papers set out the political and economic structures of the pre-Islamic period, and concentrate on tracing the evolution of religious beliefs in the area, looking in particular at the role of local traditions and the impact of Jewish and Christian influences.