The Arab World refers to a region of countries and territories where Arabic is the primary language and where the cultural, historical, and religious influences of Arab identity predominate. This area spans from North Africa through the Middle East to the Arabian Peninsula.
The Arab World includes 22 countries that form the League of Arab States, established in 1945. These countries are:
The history of the Arab World is deeply intertwined with the spread of Islam in the 7th century, which began in Arabia and quickly spread through conquests, trade, and missionary work across North Africa and the Levant. The Umayyad Caliphate and later the Abbasid Caliphate were pivotal in the formation of a distinct Arab identity and culture. This era saw significant contributions to science, philosophy, and the arts, with cities like Baghdad becoming centers of learning.
The decline of the caliphates led to the rise of various dynasties, such as the Fatimids, Ayyubids, and Mamluks, which continued to shape the Arab identity through the Middle Ages. The Ottoman Empire then ruled much of the Arab World for centuries until its dissolution post-World War I, leading to the creation of modern states under the Mandate System by the League of Nations.
Arabic culture is rich with diverse traditions, influenced by its vast geography and historical interactions:
The Arab World includes both some of the wealthiest countries due to oil reserves and some of the poorest nations, creating economic disparities. Politically, the region has experienced various forms of governance, from monarchies to republics, often marked by periods of instability due to internal conflicts, external interventions, and the quest for national identity and sovereignty.